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Juneteenth 2021 – A New Federal Holiday

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Juneteenth 2021

We have a new Federal Holiday – June 19th – Juneteenth.

Today marks the 156th anniversary of the date when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger stood in Galveston, Texas, and announced to the enslaved Americans in Texas they were free.

Our current Democratic President, Joseph Biden, and Vice President, Kamala Harris, have declared this day a federal holiday.

Despite the debilitating efforts of some state legislatures to disenfranchise African Americans from voting and the need to change policing so that African Americans are no longer an endangered species in the judicial system, I am happy with this designation.

Why?

Because I have unknown African ancestors who were victims of human trafficking and these heroes should be commemorated.  It was a miracle they endured and survived the Middle Passage journey to land in the Americas.

Because I have unknown and known ancestors who were enslaved Americans that contributed to the success of the American experiment, and their “forced FREE” labor was the backbone of America’s economy.  This country is still benefitting from those efforts. 

Because this happiness is for Arkansas White (Maw), my maternal great-great-grandmother who was an enslaved American, 12 years old when emancipated, and separated from her family at that time.   We have yet to find what happened to them and their descendants.

Because this joy is for Annie White Hargrove Fears (MaDear), my grandmother who had terrible memories of celebrating Juneteenth when she was a young girl and, now, I can commemorate it in peace for her.

When I was a child, she told me the African American community would celebrate Juneteenth on the church grounds with a picnic.   However, domestic terrorists would constantly disrupt their celebration with their racist anger and destruction.  Yet, the African American community would still gather the following year.

Because this joy is for all, who went before me with their enduring strength, faith, and hope for their children even when they lived in desperate times, and I commit never to forget them.

Because this is for all who come after me, and I must endeavor to educate about their proud heritage.

I am happy and proud that OUR country has taken another step towards redemption, recognizing this critical date to African Americans.

  Now, let’s continue with securing voting rights and equality for the future generations of ALL Americans.

Juneteenth 2020 Dare to Remember

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Today marks the 155th anniversary of the date when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger stood in Galveston, Texas, and announced to the enslaved Americans in Texas they were free.

In the past, I held a disdain for the celebrations on this date because I could not understand why we would celebrate a day when our African-American ancestors were “given” something that never should have been denied them – freedom.

However, now, I know that I was misguided because I had not sought information beyond what I was taught in Texas public schools. In 2012, I discovered the truth when I visited the African American Civil War Memorial (http://www.afroamcivilwar.org) in Washington, D.C., and read specific wording in the Emancipation Proclamation.

It clearly stated that the Proclamation provided the freedom to the enslaved Americans in the seceding states once those states were conquered and had surrendered to the Union Army.

 For that reason, 200,000 African-American men, those who had escaped slavery and those who were born free, joined the Union Army despite the threat of immediate execution if taken prisoner by the Confederate Army. 

They did so to ensure that the Union Army defeated the traitorous Confederate Army to win the Civil War so their enslaved brothers and sisters would be freed.

In essence, African-American men fought courageously and won the freedom – it was not “given” to our ancestors.

Even though General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, the last battle of the Civil War – Battle of Palmito Ranch – was fought in Texas on May 12 and 13, 1865. Texas was conquered, at this point, and the state was occupied by the African-American Union troops that helped defeat it. The enslaved Americans in Texas discovered their freedom one month later. The conditions of the Emancipation Proclamation had been satisfied, and freedom had been won.

It was an enlightening and proud moment for me to learn these facts, which had never been taught in school. Through my quest to always seek knowledge, I moved from disdain to pride in this date and its significance to my people, my state, and my country.  

Juneteenth is not just a holiday for African-Americans but ALL Americans. It is the date that our country decided to live up to our declaration that ALL men are created equal.

So, during this COVID-19 pandemic, I will celebrate with a good friend. We will attend together via Zoom, a virtual tour, and presentation at the National Museum of African-American History & Culture.    https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/celebrating-juneteenth

I will proudly reflect on the journey and contribution of The Ancestors from 1619 to today. 

How will you celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth – From Disdain to Pride

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Women Having CoffeeToday marks the 148th anniversary of the date when Union Army Major General Gordon Granger stood in Galveston, Texas and announced to the Texas slaves that they were free.

For me, today marks the first time I, a native Texan and Houstonian, formally celebrated this holiday. In the past, I held a disdain for the celebrations on this date because I could not understand why we would celebrate a day when our African-American ancestors were “given” something that never should have been denied them – freedom.

I now know that I was totally misguided because I had not sought information beyond what I was taught in Texas public school. Last year, I discovered the truth when I visited the African American Civil War Memorial (http://www.afroamcivilwar.org) in Washington, D.C. and read specific information in the Emancipation Proclamation. It clearly stated there that the Proclamation provided freedom to the slaves in the seceding states once those states were conquered and had surrendered to the Union. For that reason, 200,000 African-American men, runaway slaves and free men, rose up and joined the Union to ensure they won the Civil War so their enslaved brothers and sisters could be freed. In essence, African-American men fought and won the freedom – it was not “given” to our ancestors.

Even though General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, the last battle of the Civil War – Battle of Palmito Ranch – was fought in Texas on May 12 and 13, 1865. At this point, Texas was conquered and the state was occupied by the African-American Union troops that helped defeat it. The Texas slaves discovered their freedom one month later. The conditions of the Emancipation Proclamation had been satisfied and freedom had been won.

It was an enlightening and proud moment for me to learn these facts which had never been mentioned in school

So, to celebrate today, I visited The African-American Library at the Gregory School (http://thegregoryschool.org) which is a part of the Houston Public Library system and one of our premier research libraries here in Houston. This library hosts an exhibit of life after slavery for Texas ex-slaves.

It was amazing to learn that within six months of obtaining freedom, 1,000 ex-slaves traveled to Houston, Texas and bought land in 1865 – to form the now historic Freedmen’s Town.
By 1870, they had opened their first school – The Gregory Institute.  In 1876, that school became the first public school for African-American children and a part of the Houston Independent school district. The school is now a State Archaeological Landmark and stands proudly for a people who rose up through unimaginable adversity to aspire for education and a path to the American dream.

The exhibit shares information on many of the African-American “firsts” in Houston and their contribution to the African-American community and the Houston community as a whole. If you have an opportunity to visit, you will be inspired.

So, today was a good day for me. Through my quest to always seek knowledge, I have moved from disdain to pride in this date and its significance to my people, my state, and my country.

Happy Juneteenth!

QUESTION(S):

What are your thoughts about the Juneteenth holiday?

Do you celebrate it?   If so, please share how you celebrate.