Kenya Barris: Black-ish's "Juneteenth" is "one of the most important things" I've ever been apart of

Variety

Barris is reflecting on Black-ish's October 2017 "Juneteenth" musical episode in the wake of Juneteenth being celebrated as a major holiday this year in response to the George Floyd police brutality protests. He said it was entirely ABC's decision to re-air "Juneteenth" and the "Hope" episode dealing with police brutality on June 2 amid the protests. “I was really, really, really happy that they did it,” Barris tells Variety. “To me, that is one of the most important things that I’ve ever been a part of.” ABC Entertainment president Karey Burke called "Juneteenth" and "Hope," which aired before she joined ABC, "unbelievably powerful episodes of television. They’re required viewing. We actually sent a link around to the 'Juneteenth' episode to everyone at ABC Entertainment in advance of Friday’s holiday.” Barris admits he didn't take Juneteenth seriously growing up. “I kind of took it as a joke,” he says. “Then I thought about it one day. I’m like, ‘This country was built on the backs of free labor of an oppressed and enslaved regime.’ You know what I’m saying? Who were taken from their land. I feel like why would we pop fireworks and eat hotdogs on July 4th when everybody wasn’t independent? How is that Independence Day? I really started understanding. It doesn’t mean to get rid of Independence Day, but this should be a national holiday.” ALSO: Watch the Black-ish cast virtually reunite to reflect on the "Juneteenth" episode.