Juneteenth Comes Early to UHD
KHOU 11 To Premiere Documentary at UHD
Juneteenth celebrations will begin a day early at UHD when KHOU 11 premieres its documentary
“Juneteenth 1865-2024: A
Legacy of Song,” at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 18, in the TDECU Tour Room of the
Welcome Center. This year’s edition of the station’s award-winning Juneteenth series
features how African Americans have shaped every genre of music and how it has evolved
into today’s sound.
KHOU News Anchors Mia Gradney (Juneteenth documentary Creator and Producer) and Len Cannon (Juneteenth documentary Producer) will be on hand for the screening and will host a Q&A session following the video. The documentary is an hour long with the Q&A following. A complimentary lunch will be provided.
“Black music provides a historical timeline of African Americans' constant pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice, and captures the enduring spirit of African American people,” Gradney said.
This year’s special features the sounds of gospel, jazz, funk, and hip-hop, and the talented artists who have had an impact on Houston’s music scene. “Music would not sound the same without the countless contributions by Black artists. They have been the ultimate influencers and creators in the space for centuries while often enduring adversity,” Gradney said.
“Focusing on music for the Juneteenth special was inevitable. It has been a source of inspiration, hope, and artistic expression from one generation to the next,” Cannon said.
The 2024 edition celebrating the musical contributions of African Americans is the fourth in the KHOU 11 Juneteenth series.
Click below to view previous Juneteenth specials:
Juneteenth 1865-2023: Freedom to Learn
Juneteenth 1865-2022: The Pursuit of Economic Equality
Following the daytime premiere of “Juneteenth 1865-2024: A Legacy of Song,” the documentary will air at 7 p.m. that evening on KHOU 11 and via streaming for free on the KHOU 11+ app through Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.
About the University of Houston-Downtown
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.