00:00Good morning, Essence family. I am Caroline Wanga, and I couldn't be more excited to be here with you today.
00:06It is my fourth day as a member of the immediate Essence team and family, and I could not be more excited to be here with you
00:15to help kick off the second weekend of this wonderful event we've had for over 25 years, Essence Fest.
00:23You know, I mentioned that I've been here for four days, but I've been an extended part of the family,
00:28just like many of you, for a really long time. And when the opportunity to join a team that had
00:3550 years of legacy behind it and 50 years of legacy in front of it to drive and continue to create
00:43equity, parity, greatness for Black folk came my way, the only answer was yes. It was the only answer.
00:52Because what we have to make sure that we understand is that we can coexist in seeking
00:59justice for what we, as Black people know, is deserved and celebrate joy. We also know
01:06that we are allowed and have permission to rest, reconcile, and reflect
01:14on who we are, what we are, and what makes us great. And while we do that, we also have permission
01:23to continue to fasten and fix that which is necessary for us to continue to rise.
01:32This weekend, we celebrate our culture, we celebrate our talent, we celebrate our legacy, we celebrate
01:43generations and generations and generations of Black folk that have never, although always
01:51attempted, been broken. This weekend, may your joy, may your justice, may your fastening,
02:00may your flourishing, may your reflecting, may your rest, may your reconciliation be unstoppable.
02:11Enjoy the weekend.
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