P ▁and ▁the ▁birth days ▁of ▁Frederick ▁Doug lass , ▁a ▁prominent ▁African - American ▁abol ition ist , ▁and ▁Abraham ▁Lincoln , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁president ▁who ▁signed ▁the ▁E man cip ation ▁Pro clam ation . ▁ ▁On ▁June ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁President ▁Jimmy ▁Carter ▁decre ed ▁that ▁June ▁would ▁be ▁the ▁month ▁of ▁black ▁music . ▁For ▁the ▁past ▁ 2 8 ▁years , ▁pres idents ▁have ▁announced ▁to ▁Americans ▁that ▁Black ▁Music ▁Month ▁( also ▁called ▁African - American ▁Music ▁Month ) ▁should ▁be ▁recognized ▁as ▁a ▁critical ▁part ▁of ▁American ▁her itage . ▁Black ▁Music ▁Month ▁is ▁highlight ed ▁with ▁various ▁events ▁ur ging ▁citizens ▁to ▁revel ▁in ▁the ▁many ▁forms ▁of ▁music ▁from ▁g ospel ▁to ▁hip - h op . ▁ ▁African - American ▁mus icians , ▁sing ers , ▁and ▁compos ers ▁are ▁also ▁highlight ed ▁for ▁their ▁contributions ▁to ▁the ▁nation ' s ▁history ▁and ▁culture . ▁ ▁Less - wid ely ▁observed ▁outside ▁of ▁the ▁African - American ▁community ▁is ▁E man cip ation ▁Day ▁popular ly ▁known ▁as ▁Jun ete enth ▁or ▁Fre edom ▁Day , ▁in ▁recognition ▁of ▁the ▁official ▁reading ▁of ▁the ▁E man cip ation ▁Pro clam ation ▁on ▁June ▁ 1 9 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 , ▁in ▁Texas . ▁Jun ete enth ▁is ▁a ▁day ▁when ▁African ▁Americans ▁reflect ▁on ▁their ▁unique ▁history ▁and ▁her itage . ▁It ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁fast est ▁growing ▁African - American ▁hol