Academy Award-winning musician and Virginia Beach native Pharrell joined Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in declaring Juneteenth as a state holiday last Tuesday.
According to Rolling Stone, Pharrell made an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where he shared that the collaboration between himself and Northam grew out of an understanding of how momentous the day is for the people of Virginia and Black people nationally.
Virginia became the second state to adopt the holiday after Texas declared Juneteenth a national holiday in 1980, Yahoo News reports .
Virginia’s declaration, however, means June 19 will be a paid day off for state employees.
Legally, private companies aren’t required to give employees the day off, but the motion could encourage organizations to support their workers in observing the holiday.
