Pharrell Williams on How He Got Virginia to Make Juneteenth an Official State Holiday (Video)
“For me, this was incredibly symbolic, and it’s necessary,” Williams says
Margeaux Sippell | June 19, 2020 @ 7:54 AM
Last Updated: June 20, 2020 @ 1:15 PM
Pharrell Williams came on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Thursday night with some good news — the “Happy” singer has convinced the state of Virginia to make Juneteenth an official state holiday.
“I just think its high time that if we’re gonna think about what independence and what freedom really looks like — ours was never really acknowledged,” Williams told Kimmel over video chat. “Yeah, there are 47 states that observe it, but it’s not a paid holiday. We deserve a paid holiday.”
On Tuesday, Williams, who grew up in Virginia Beach, joined Gov. Ralph Northam in a press conference, after having spoken with state officials over the weekend about formally recognizing the holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived at Galveston, Texas, and delivered the news that all enslaved people in the state were free. It came two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
“I called them and said, ‘Man, this is important for not only your own legacy, but the legacy of Virginia,” Williams continued. “If you would be willing to officiate this and make this a paid holiday, I will travel for the first time out of my house. My wife is not playing no games with this COVID-19. As you know we have 600 children, we can’t afford to play any games. But this is serious because this is for not only me but for my ancestors that absolutely came through on the hull of a ship in Virginia over 400 years ago. So for me, this was incredibly symbolic, and it’s necessary.”
Celebrate Father's Day With 12 Comic Book Superheroes Who Are Also Super Dads (Photos)
While all fathers are indeed superheroes in the eyes of their children, in the world of comics many fathers are also actual superheroes. So to honor the real world heroes, TheWrap brings you 12 of the best comic book dads. Some are father figures, some are actually heroes, and some are just the kind of dads who help guide their children to become superheroes in their own right.
Black Lightning On The CW series based on the DC comic, High School principle Jefferson Pierce is a father figure to his students and a loving father to his daughters. And when his daughters are kidnapped by the 100 gang, he comes out of retirement as the hero Black Lightning in what has to be the ultimate superhero dad move.
Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic Reed Richards is the cool kind of dad who promises to take the family on vacation and then does it -- to uh, outside of the known universe so he can teach his son Franklin how to create universes.
T'Chaka Like his Marvel Comics counterpart, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe T'Chaka is king of Wakanda, and formerly served as Black Panther for decades before passing the mantle to his son T'Challa. He also raised his daughter Shuri to be a super genius scientist whose inventions power Wakanda and make Black Panther an even greater warrior.
Luke Cage Luke doesn't just have bullet proof skin and superhuman strength going for him. He's also a doting dad to daughter Danielle, who he had with fellow superhero and wife Jessica Jones. Cage certainly puts family first, and has quit the Avengers on numerous occasions in order to spend more time with his family.
Thomas Wayne You already know he's Bruce Wayne's father, but Thomas Wayne got the chance to be a Dark Knight in his own right after the Flash changed history during the "Flashpoint" DC Comics crossover event. In the new timeline, Thomas became Batman after his son, Bruce, was killed in a robbery. He eventually sacrifices his own life to help set the timeline right and give his son a chance to live. As he dies, he gives Barry Allen a letter for his son Bruce, urging him not to become consumed by loss, and to find hope and love again. No you're crying, not me.
Odin Perhaps the dad of this list who epitomizes tough love, as seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Odin is strict and stubborn, but ultimately does everything he can to give his kids a good life. he's not above using tough love tactics -- like de-powering Thor and banishing him to Earth. But he's also always down to support Thor in the end.
Tony Stark "I love you 3000" anyone? The ultimate dad phrase comes from the former playboy turned surrogate father to Tom Holland's Spider-man and doting dad to daughter Morgan in "Avengers: Endgame." Bonus dad points for making that video to Morgan at the end of of the movie
Howard Stark A surrogate father to Captain America back in the day during the super soldier serum experiment, and also Tony Stark's dad. Being a dad to two of Earth's mightiest heroes cements his place on this list.
Jor-El How can Superman's father not be on the list? If saving the life of your only son -- and through him, your entire civilization -- by putting him in a rocket to Earth to avoid the destruction of planet Krypton isn't a superhero dad move, then we don't know what is.
Bruce Wayne Easily the tough loving micro managing sports dad of this list who pushes his wards like Dick Greyson, Jason Todd, Time Drake, and his only son Damien to reach their fullest potentials, much to their frustrations.
Mr. Incredible They only superhero dad from the Pixar bunch who just happens to also be incredible.
Alfred Pennyworth Alfred raised Bruce Wayne after his parents were killed, and continued to serve as his staunchest supporter and confidante when Bruce embarked on his war on crime as Batman. He's been there during Batman's darkest moments, always ready to stitch up Bruce, wash his batsuit, makes sure he gets proper nutrition and rest, call out Bruce on his nonsense, and even suit up as Batman himself if he has to.
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Just make sure you do your homework
While all fathers are indeed superheroes in the eyes of their children, in the world of comics many fathers are also actual superheroes. So to honor the real world heroes, TheWrap brings you 12 of the best comic book dads. Some are father figures, some are actually heroes, and some are just the kind of dads who help guide their children to become superheroes in their own right.
