DETROIT (AP) – The resilience, culture and heroism of black Americans and the African diaspora will be the central theme of a virtual event that will celebrate the country’s diversity on the eve of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is expected to speak at Tuesday’s “We Are One” event, which also pays homage to the historic nature of her being the first black and South Asian woman to become the United States’s vice president.
Black voters across the country helped deliver Biden’s presidency, overwhelmingly supporting him from the start of his candidacy for the White House. Organizational work led by blacks across the country galvanized black voters and contributed to historical turnout in major battlefield states.
Tony Allen, CEO of the inaugural committee, said the program “will honor acts of resilience, heroism and commitment to unity” from the black, Latin, Asian American and Pacific Island communities “as the coalitions that make up our nation come together to celebrate a new chapter in our history. “
Several of the country’s top black leaders will comment, including Whip Jim Clyburn of the majority in the House, a close ally of Biden whose South Carolina endorsement broadened Biden’s margin of victory and began his avalanche of victories in the March primaries.
Among other speakers: Stacey Abrams, whose electoral record and education efforts helped turn Georgia’s blue towards Biden; Rep. Cedric Richmond; Black Caucus Congress President, Rep. Joyce Beatty; Sen. Cory Booker; and the new Senator from Georgia, Rev. Raphael Warnock.
The event will honor the legacy of the country’s historically black colleges and universities, as well as black brotherhoods and fraternities. Harris is the first graduate of HBCU and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha fraternity to be vice president.
International fellowship president and CEO, Dr. Glenda Glover, and Howard University president, Dr. Wayne Frederick, will comment.
The event will feature musical performances and presentations by activists and celebrities. It will be hosted by Terrence J and will feature Leslie Jones, DJ D-Nice and black cultural icons like Frankie Beverly, The O’Jays and Rapsody.
The celebration also includes the Battle of the Bands and features several HBCUs, including: Delaware State University, Howard University, the Texas Southern University Debate Team, Florida A&M University Marching 100, Grambling State University World Famous Marching Band, Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South, Louisiana Leadership Institute All-Star Marching Band, South Carolina State University Marching 101, Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band and the Tennessee State University Aristocrat of Bands.
The event is part of five days of programming planned under the inaugural theme “United America”. It will air on Tuesday from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm (Eastern Time) on social media and select channels, including Urban One, Revolt TV and The Choice on Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service.
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Kat Stafford is an investigative reporter on the Associated Press’s Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/kat__stafford.
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