On this most relevant of days, we’ll be digging through some of the important songs from the past century focusing on its meaning and significance. While the embodiment of the music could have touched on every genre because the influences are vast, we’ll settle on the inspirational sounds from every corner. Juneteenth is a jubilant, high energy celebration of a somber reality. First recognized in 1865 it is the oldest known celebration honoring the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led thousands of federal troops to Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended, and slaves had been freed. Our observation on Deeper Roots includes tracks from Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, and gospel sounds galore leading off with Mahalia Jackson.
| No. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artist | Title | Album | Buy |
| 2 | Mahalia Jackson | I'm On My Way | The Promised Land – Original Soundtrack [Disc 1] |  |
| 3 | Morgan Freeman, Terence Blanchard | The South | The Promised Land – Original Soundtrack [Disc 1] | |
| 4 | Southern Sons | Lift Every Voice & Sing | Gospel Quartets 1921-1942 Vol. 2 | |
| 5 | The Clark Sisters | Is My Living In Vain | Is My Living In Vain | |
| 6 | The Staple Singers | Wade In The Water | Freedom Highway | |
| 7 | Bill Withers | Harlem | Best Of Bill Withers: Lean On Me | |
| 8 | Marvin Gaye | Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) | The Promised Land – Original Soundtrack [Disc 2] | |
| 9 | The Sensational Nightingales | Freedom After a While | Great Gospel – People Get Ready | |
| 10 | Aretha Franklin | Young, Gifted And Black | Queen Of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings [Disc 3] | |
| 11 | Billie Holiday | Strange Fruit | Ken Burns Jazz [Disc 2] | |
| 12 | Nina Simone | Feeling Good | Six Feet Under, Vol. 2: Everything Ends | |
| 13 | Nina Simone | Mississippi Goddam | Anthology Disc 1 | |
| 14 | Little Esther & the Dominoes | The Deacon Moves In | Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 | |
| 15 | Fatso Bently | Juneteenth Jamboree | Swing-O-Rama : Hepcats | |
| 16 | SNCC Freedom Singers; Johnson, Bernice | Woke Up This Morning With My Mind On Freedom | Voices Of The Civil Rights Movement, [Disc 2] (Ensembles) | |
| 17 | Coleman Brothers | Raise A Rukus Tonight | Hot Harmony Groups 1941-1949: Vol 3: When the Old Gang | |
| 18 | Sam Cooke | A Change Is Gonna Come | Ain't That Good News | |
| 19 | Gil Scott-Heron | The Revolution Will Not Be Televised | The Revolution Begins: The Flying Dutchman Masters | |
| 20 | The Soul Stirrers | Free At Last | Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story: 1959 – 1965 [Disc 1] | |
| 21 | The Holmes Brothers | Promised Land | Promised Land | |
| 22 | Richie Havens | Freedom | Resume: The Best of Richie Havens | |
| 23 | The Staple Singers | Swing Down, Chariot | Swing Low Sweet Chariot + Uncloudy Day (Bonus Track Version) | |
| 24 | James Brown | Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud), Pts. 1-2 | Gold Disc 1 | |
| 25 | Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes | Wake Up Everybody | The Promised Land – Original Soundtrack [Disc 2] | |
| 26 | Wyclef Jean | Redemption Song | America: A Tribute To Heroes [Disc 2] | |
| 27 | Terence Blanchard | Closing Theme | The Promised Land – Original Soundtrack [Disc 1] | |