DONKEY: Cabarrus Commissioner Faces Backlash After Saying Juneteenth Is ‘Based On A Lie’

Summary

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The Breakfast Club – "DONKEY: Cabarrus Commissioner Faces Backlash After Saying Juneteenth Is ‘Based On A Lie’"

Date: June 18, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God
Main Theme:
This episode’s central focus is Charlamagne Tha God’s “Donkey of the Day” segment, where he addresses and critiques remarks made by North Carolina Commissioner Larry Pittman, who argued during a county meeting that Juneteenth is “based on a lie” and voted against a resolution recognizing the holiday. The hosts dive into why such statements are misleading, unpacking the historical context of Juneteenth, its symbolism, and the broader significance of commemorating milestones in Black American history.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Larry Pittman's Comments Spark Local and National Criticism

• [02:18] Charlamagne introduces the Donkey of the Day, outlining the main controversy:

  "Donkey today for Thursday, June 18, goes to county commissioner in North Carolina named Larry Pittman... he is receiving donkey of the day this morning because of some comments he made during a debate over a Juneteenth resolution. Larry Pittman cast a lone vote against a resolution recognizing Juneteenth, arguing that the holiday is based on a lie and it should not be celebrated on June 19th."

• [03:41] News report audio contextualizes the backlash from local civil rights leaders and the NAACP.

• Pittman's justification:

  "[Juneteenth] is based on a lie. People were not set free by the Emancipation Proclamation.” ([04:09])

• He suggests the proper date for ending slavery is December, referencing the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

2. Charlamagne’s Perspective: Defending the Symbolism and Purpose of Juneteenth

• [04:50] Charlamagne laments the lack of public understanding about Juneteenth:

  "People do not quite grasp the historical context or understand the historical context of Juneteenth yet."

• He points out that holidays are about commemorating symbolic milestones:

  "Juneteenth commemorates a significant milestone in the struggle for freedom, not a claim that slavery ended universally on that exact date." ([06:52])

• He draws a parallel to July 4th and other holidays:

  "Americans celebrate the fourth of July as Independence Day, even though independence was not fully secured on July 4, 1776, and many people remained enslaved afterward... holidays often commemorate symbolic milestones rather than the final completion of historical processes. And that's okay."

3. Critique of Pittman’s Historical Argument and Underlying Prejudices

• [06:44] Pittman, doubling down during the meeting, claims the public is being misled:

  "True history is important, not what an elitist point of view forces to be taught in schools and ignores the real truth of what happened..."

• Charlamagne rebuts Pittman’s points by highlighting:

  • The importance of understanding what Juneteenth represents: delayed justice, celebration of liberation, and milestones in the larger process of emancipation.
  • The flawed logic of demanding holidays match specific dates—otherwise, nearly all holidays would lose their meaning.

4. Tension and Racial Undertones

• [06:49 & 09:50] A particularly charged moment occurs:

  • Pittman dismissively tells a colleague, "You've said enough, boy." Charlamagne sharply calls out the racist undertone:

    "That's the kind of 'boy' that made Michael Evans have to tell y' all that boy is a white racist word, okay? I know racism when I hear it." ([09:54])

• Charlamagne asserts that Pittman's underlying motivation is discomfort with what Juneteenth represents:

  “How dare these niggas be free... He hates what it represents... He’s just using this dumbass reasoning about dates that justify his prejudice to justify his bigotry.” ([08:55])

5. Memorable Analogies and Barbs

• Charlamagne equates celebrating Juneteenth to ringing the bell after cancer treatment:

  "When you ring a bell in the cancer center, it traditionally signifies the end of a phase... rather than a guarantee that the cancer is completely gone forever. But ringing the bell is a milestone, and you should let people celebrate their milestones." ([06:52])

• Comedic segments follow, mocking Pittman with recurring jokes about mayonnaise and pop culture references, signaling absurdity and exaggeration in his comments.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God [04:50]:

  “People do not quite grasp the historical context or understand the historical context of Juneteenth yet. And if we as one of the premier black radio shows in the world… have the blessing of being on air, we should be here tomorrow to celebrate Juneteenth and let folks know exactly what Juneteenth is.”

• Larry Pittman [05:45]:

  “True history is important, not what an elitist point of view forces to be taught in schools and ignores the real truth of what happened.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [06:52]:

  “Juneteenth commemorates a significant milestone in the struggle for freedom, not a claim that slavery ended universally on that exact date.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [08:55]:

  “He’s just using this dumbass reasoning about dates that justify his prejudice to justify his bigotry.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [09:54]:

  "That's the kind of 'boy' that made Michael Evans have to tell y' all that boy is a white racist word, okay? I know racism when I hear it."

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Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Content | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 02:18 | Charlamagne introduces "Donkey of the Day" topic | | 03:41 | Local news segment on the Juneteenth controversy | | 04:09 | Pittman explains his opposition at meeting | | 05:45 | Pittman gives expanded reasoning and dismisses colleague| | 06:52 | Charlamagne draws analogies, rebuts Pittman | | 09:50 | Pittman uses "boy" in heated exchange | | 09:54 | Charlamagne calls out racism and delivers signature outro |

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Tone and Style

• The discussion is pointed, passionate, and blends cultural critique with humor and signature Breakfast Club banter.
• Charlamagne uses sarcasm, analogies, and social commentary to underscore his points, mixing seriousness with humor to both inform and entertain.

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Summary

Charlamagne Tha God uses the platform to dismantle Commissioner Larry Pittman’s argument that Juneteenth is “based on a lie,” turning the moment into a teachable one for listeners about the real importance of Juneteenth. The hosts frame the holiday as a commemoration of progress—a milestone, not a claim of absolute, immediate freedom for all. The episode blends history lessons, real talk about racism and symbolism, and The Breakfast Club’s trademark humor to make a powerful case against historical revisionism and prejudice.

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Transcript

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why is it always chaos when we link up?

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's time for Donkey of the Day. There's a bunch of donkeys out here in these streets called Donkey of the Day. It really caught me off guard. A life where we bite our tongue based off who we may offend. We never would say anything. Give it to him. Give it to him. You are a donkey. That is why Charlemagne is Here. Some donkey today just said himself on the Breakfast Club. Okay, Charlemagne, who you giving donkey of the day to today? Well, donkey today for Thursday, June 18, goes to county commissioner. Goes to a county commissioner in North Carolina named Larry Pittman. Okay. Larry Pittman is a cabaret county commissioner, and he is receiving donkey of the day this morning because of some comments he made during a debate over a Juneteenth resolution. Larry Pittman cast a lone vote against a resolution recognizing Juneteenth, arguing that the holiday is based on a lie and it should not be celebrated on June 19th.

[Larry Pittman]

Okay.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let the record show that just last hour, I told the room, I believe I want to work tomorrow. Okay. Juneteenth is a federal holiday here at iHeartradio. So we have the day off, but I feel like I want to work. Ironic, right?

[Co-host/Producer]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A black person who wants to work on a day that commemorates when black people were finally informed that we free. Okay. But the reason I want to work is because of guys like Larry Pittman. See, Larry is arguing that Juneteenth is based on a lie. So let's go to WCNC News for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

Disagreement over Juneteenth inside the Cabarrus County Government center is now drawing criticism from local civil rights leaders.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

One county commissioner voted against a resolution recognizing the holiday and said Juneteenth is based on a lie.

[News Reporter]

WCNC Charlotte's Alexandra Rios Mello Villa spoke with the local NAACP leaders, who say the comments missed the meaning of the day. Just days before Juneteenth celebrations, a debate over the holiday is taking center stage in Cabarrus County.

[Larry Pittman]

I don't support it because it is based on a lie. People were not set free by the Emancipation Proclamation.

[News Reporter]

During Monday's county commissioners meeting, Commissioner Larry Pittman cast the lone vote against a resolution recognizing Juneteenth. For many Black Americans, Juneteenth, June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed enslaved people they were free. More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Pittman argues the holiday should not be celebrated in June, but in December instead.

[Larry Pittman]

Eight months after the war was over and Lincoln was dead.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

See, this is my argument for working tomorrow. Okay? Didn't I tell y' all earlier? People don't really understand or know what Juneteenth is. See, it's easy to take off. 4th of July, memorial Day, Veterans Day Day, President's Day. Folks understand the historical context of those days. People do not quite grasp the historical context or understand the historical context of Juneteenth yet. And if we as one of the premier black radio shows in the world. May I say, the premier black radio show in the world. One of the premier radio shows in the world, period. The Breakfast Club have the blessing of being on air. We should be here tomorrow to celebrate Juneteenth and let folks know exactly what Juneteenth is. See, Larry Pittman is misinformed. He says Juneteenth was based on a lie because. Because slavery had not ended nationwide on June 19, 1865. And he suggests recognition should focus on the ratification of the 13th Amendment instead. Let's listen to his comments in full. They were interesting.

[Larry Pittman]

I want to address this thing about Juneteenth. I don't support it because it is based on a lie. True history is important, not what an elitist point of view forces to be taught in schools and ignores the real truth of what happened. And my son. Hey, it is not your turn, sir. My son graduated from Wingate University with a degree in history. And I've talked to him about some of these things, and from his studies, he confirms to me exactly what I've learned by going beyond textbooks and looking at other sources. A lot of these things I learned by doing that when I was a kid. And it makes me sick. What passes for history, that is falsehood, and I will not just sit by and take it. I guess I've said enough. You've said enough, boy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Wow. What do you mean, boy?

[Larry Pittman]

I mean you act immature, Commissioner Wardman.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, so listen. Larry Pittman's criticism rests on the argument that Juneteenth is not the precise date slavery legally ended everywhere. Larry, Larry, Larry. Okay, big laugh. All right? That criticism misses the whole point. Juneteenth commemorates a significant milestone in the struggle for freedom, not a claim that slavery ended universally on that exact date. Okay? June 19, 1865, was a milestone. All right? It's like ringing the bell in the cancer center. When you ring a bell in the cancer center, it traditionally signifies the end of a phase of active treatment, all right? Like such as completing chemotherapy or radiation, rather than a guarantee that the cancer is completely gone forever. But ringing the bell is a milestone, and you should let people celebrate their milestones. Okay? Hey, Larry, here's some irony, okay? Here's some irony that many historians point out. Americans celebrate the fourth of July as Independence Day, even though independence was not fully secured on July 4, 1776, and many people remained enslaved afterward. Okay? Holidays often commemorate symbolic milestones rather than the final completion of historical processes. And that's okay. And this, my friends, this is why reading and history classes matter, okay? Larry Pittman voted against a resolution recognizing Juneteenth because he says the holiday is based on a lie, since slavery didn't end everywhere on June 19, 1865. But, sir, nobody said it did. The point of Juneteenth isn't that slavery, you know, everywhere magically vanished on June 19. The point is that enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, okay? It commemorates delayed justice, alright? It celebrates liberation. It's symbolism of what was to come. Also, Larry, I just want you to know, if we canceled every holiday because it wasn't 100% historically precise, we'd have to cancel Columbus Day, okay? Thanksgiving, Christmas. That's not Jesus birthday, all right? It's not Jesus birthday, okay? We just schedule a lot of these holidays around times we want to be off from work, okay? Oh, how convenient. Fourth of July is in summer. How convenient Thanksgiving and Christmas is towards the end of the year. How convenient Juneteenth is on a Friday. Like, cut it out. Okay, Larry, let's not get so caught up in proving you're technically right that you missed the reason of why people celebrate things in the first place. Sometimes history isn't, you know, just about dates. It's what those dates represent, and that's the reality of the situation. Larry Pittman doesn't like what these dates represent. How dare these niggas be free. Okay? Larry doesn't want the Juneteenth holiday period. He hates what it represents. I know. I know he does, okay? I know he does. I know he does. I know he does. I know he doesn't want to recognize. He's just using this dumbass reasoning about dates that justify his prejudice to justify his bigotry. You know how. How I know he's a bigot? Listen to this part again.

[Larry Pittman]

You said enough, boy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's the kind of boy that made Michael Evans have to tell y' all that boy is a white racist word, okay? I know racism when I hear it. Please give Larry Pittman the sweet sounds of the Hamiltones. Oh, now you are the donkey of the day. You the doy of the day. Oh, Chelsea Handler say she want to say something. Man, he haw, he haw.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Way too much mayonnaise. Oh, my God. Kathy Griffith just told me she want to say something too. Please give this giant jar of mayo the biggest hee haw. I think Chris Rock might be down at the Knicks parade. But he just shouted something from the crowd. Oh, my God. Okay, what about My girl at the drive through, she working to drive through still.

[Cal Penn]

Damn.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's going on? People want something with their chili, man. They just want. That's just what they eat with their chili, y'. All right, that's all. That's all it is.

[Co-host/Producer]

Thank you for that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the day.

[Co-host/Producer]

And now when we come back, just fix my mess. Yes, 800-585-1051. If you need relationship advice or any type of advice, you can call Jess right now. And I just want to tell us if you're heading to the parade today. Today is the New York Knicks par Parade. They're saying the pens where they have where you can actually watch the parade are full. So no one will be allowed in the viewing area. And they say as a reminder, if you leave the viewing pens, you will not be allowed re entry. There are no trains stopping past Canal Street. So where the parade is. So then not. You can't even get down there right now. So the only way to get down there is to walk.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So if somebody out there got a pee so bad right now, what. And y' all down there drinking that Dunkin Donuts coffee and all types of other coffee. So I know you got a poop probably too. And liquor because I'm spiking that coffee.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yes.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's going to be a rough one this morning.

[Co-host/Producer]

It's going to be rough.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

I swear, no repeating stuff.

[Co-host/Producer]

No, but when it with New Year's, New Year's Eve.

[Larry Pittman]

But I don't believe.

[Co-host/Producer]

I'm sure they do it here too. It's the same thing when people are there since 12 yesterday. Yes.

[Larry Pittman]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, New Yorkers are a bit extreme. So yeah, I believe it.

[Co-host/Producer]

Anyway, just fix my messes. Next it's the Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

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