Before the Presidential Inauguration, Keke Palmer and Dr. Jill Biden hosted the first-ever Youth Inauguration Program for American families.
What We Know:
- On Wednesday, actress Keke Palmer hosted an inaugural first: a curated live stream for youth titled “Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans” which took place before and during the inauguration ceremony which began at 10 a.m. EST. The event featured a message from Jill Biden, who holds a doctorate in education. “Inaugurations are one of the most important American traditions,” First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said in a video posted to the Biden Inaugural Instagram account.
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- During the live stream of “Our White House,” a special message from Dr. Jill Biden was heard. “I’m excited to take you on this journey with me. Together we will experience how Democracy works and what makes Inauguration Day, so special” Dr. Biden said. There was even a Presidential Pets Pop Quiz sponsored by Nickelodeon. Statements from Doug Emhoff, Michelle Krowl, and David Kennedy are among those involved in the “Our White House” presentation.
- There was a segment on the presidential pets, who are the first pets in the White House after four years. The United States has been without presidential dogs since 2016, when President Donald Trump became the first president without a dog in decades. According to Today, “Our White House” featured commentary from historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Erica Armstrong Dunbar, as well as excerpts of student voices from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs’ “We the Young People” programming. All programs streamed live on the PIC social media channels YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch.
- The first lady made an appearance during Tuesday’s Discovery Education program “I Do Solemnly Swear: The U.S. Presidential Inauguration” at 12 p.m. EST. That program aims to teach students about the history of the inauguration.
- Most of the events surrounding the swearing-in were virtually focused, in part due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, as well as fresh security concerns following a pro-Trump mob breaching the Capitol last week in a riot that left five dead. On the other hand, those who watched the inauguration from home were entertained by the star-studded lineup. Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi, Ant Clemons, and Tom Hanks appeared during Joe Biden’s inauguration festivities.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were inaugurated today, January 20, becoming the 46th President and Vice-president of the United States. You can watch a replay here and make sure to catch special Black New Alerts coverage here.
