Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”) and singer Pharrell Williams are in discussions with Netflix to create a musical about Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S., reports Deadline.
No content specifics are known.
Barris, who also produced “Hidden Figures,” is producing through his production company Khalabo Ink Society. Grammy winner Williams is joined by his partner Mimi Valdes. He also has a dedicated YouTube channel, i am OTHER.
Barris has been vocal in his support for Juneteenth. His Netflix series “BlackAF” held a Juneteenth party, while “Black-ish” featured an episode about it.
Virginia, New York and Texas recognize today’s holiday, which commemorates the abolition of slavery on June 19, 1865. That’s when a Union general announced to the slaves of Texas, the farthest outpost of the Confederacy, they were free.
Juneteenth happened two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.