June 19 is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Now a federal holiday, Juneteenth has been celebrated in Milwaukee for 50 years. Saturday’s celebrations promise to be massive.
Ahead of the 19th, tireless Milwaukee musician Klassik has released a new song/video, “Black Holiday.” It’s a stunner. We’ll let the artist himself explain its origins:
This is a piece of art inspired by and in response to the physical, psychological, and state-sanctioned violence incurred upon Black bodies around the world, with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the attempted murder of Jacob Blake being key local catalysts for me. The summer of 2020 ignited many fires, both literally and figuratively, and the fire of frustration, and an urgent sense of responsibility to articulate that rage and passion, created this song. The hook is a declaration not of mistaken identity, but of defiance and resilience. “You’ve got the wrong one” is a declaration of self-awareness and pride, and of setting boundaries to protect the most impactful and effective form of protest, which in the case of Black Liberation, is Black Joy.
The visual, directed by myself, shot by Samer Ghani, designed by Rakim, and edited by Blizz, is intended to capture the frenzy and disorientation that this rage can incur, instilling a sense of urgency and defiance that is the driving theme of the song and visual.
Exclusive articles, podcasts, and more. Support Milwaukee Record on Patreon.
RELATED ARTICLES
• My First Band: Kellen Abston (Klassik)
• Hear Klassik reinterpret time-tested material on his ‘American Klassiks’ live album
• Hear Klassik and Johanna Rose turn Woody Guthrie’s “Ship In The Sky” into an “American Klassik”