Watch Emmett Till film and hear singer Chris Blue at Beck Center's Eighth of August event

East Tennessee’s African American community and friends and supporters are gearing up to celebrate when the Beck Cultural Exchange Center presents its ninth annual Eighth of August Jubilee.

Observances begin at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 6 at Freedmen’s Mission Historic Cemetery adjacent to Knoxville College, with its annual Libation Ceremony, a special tribute to enslaved descendants freed Aug. 8, 1863. Special guest will be Ned Arter, great-great-grandson of Sam Johnson, emancipated on that date and considered the father of Emancipation Day celebrations.

Then, on Aug. 8, the annual red carpet event will feature Emmy-winning filmmaker Loki Mulholland’s film “Emmett Till: White Lies, Black Death.”

It’s the result of Mulholland’s and Pulitzer-nominated investigative reporter Jerry Mitchell’s extensive, nationwide trek together to discover details, events and falsehoods concerning the 14-year-old’s gruesome 1955 murder that have never been brought to light. Recently, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation to establish the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument honoring Till and his mother, who became an activist for justice in the wake of her son’s abduction, torture and lynching.

Both Mulholland and Mitchell will be special guests at the event.

Also featured will be Knoxville’s own Chris Blue, winner of season 12 of “The Voice” in 2017. That same year, he was honored with the Beck Heritage Award. Blue is an alumnus of Bearden High School and Knoxville Christian School. He is known for his powerful, soulful voice and his singles “Money’s On You” and “Blue Blood Blues.”

The history of the events that led to the emancipation of Black enslaved people during and after the four-year course of the American Civil War is complex, owing in large part to the rudimentary means of communication available to the general population at that time.

President Abraham Lincoln actually issued the Emancipation Proclamation in its preliminary format in September of 1862, before the war had entered its third year, with a promise to sign it into law on Jan. 1, 1863. Lincoln made good on his promise. But news spread slowly.

Tennessee was actually one of the earlier states to get the word out. On Aug. 8, 1863, Tennessee Military Gov. Andrew Johnson officially freed enslaved people across the state.

The last state to observe the Emancipation Proclamation was Texas, on June 16, 1865, after the war had ended. Hence the “Juneteenth” federal holiday, when all enslaved people in the U.S. were finally liberated.

The Tennessee Theatre red carpet event is a ticketed event. VIP reception ticket holders will enjoy catered cuisine, beverages, private access to VIP guests, entertainment and VIP seating.

After the VIP reception, doors open for general admission ticket holders. All ticket holders enjoy an evening that includes, art, music, dance, a special Annual Heritage Award presentation, and the movie.

The public is invited to both events. For more information, including tickets to the red carpet event at the Tennessee Theatre, visit beckcenter.net.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Emmett Till film and singer Chris Blue to highlight Eighth of August