[NFBF-Melbourne] FW: WEEKEND ENCOURAGEMENT: Ath

[Joyce Taylor]

From: Joyce Taylor <dr.joycetaylor56 at gmail.com> 
Sent: Friday, June 17, 2022 11:57 PM
To: 'nfbfl-faith at groups.io' <nfbfl-faith at groups.io>
Subject: WEEKEND ENCOURAGEMENT: Ath

 


THE HISTORY OF JJUNETEENTH 


 


CJUNETEENTH.Com


Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending
of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th
that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at
Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were
now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln's
Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The
Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal
number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the
surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General
Granger's regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and
overcome the resistance.

Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of
this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down
through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered
on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another is that the news was
deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the
plantations. And still another is that federal troops actually waited for
the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before
going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or
none of these versions could be true. Certainly, for some, President
Lincoln's authority over the rebellious states was in question. Whatever the
reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was
statutory.


General Order Number 3


One of General Granger's first orders of business was to read to the people
of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation
from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves
an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters
and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that
between employer and hired laborer."

The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate
jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee
relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of
their former 'masters' - attesting to the varying conditions on the
plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go, many
felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom.
North was a logical destination and for many it represented true freedom,
while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove some
into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free
men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a
heretofore non-existent status for black people in America. Recounting the
memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve
as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in
their new territories. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth"
and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth
celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for
gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly
revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants
making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.


Juneteenth Festivities And Food


A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of which
continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are
just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today.
Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self improvement. Thus,
often guest speakers are brought in and the elders are called upon to
recount the events of the past. Prayer services were also a major part of
these celebrations.

Certain foods became popular and subsequently synonymous with Juneteenth
celebrations such as strawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as
popular was the barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants could
share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated
African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence,
the barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at
Juneteenth celebrations.

Food was abundant because everyone prepared a special dish. Meats such as
lamb, pork and beef which were not available everyday were brought on this
special occasion. A true Juneteenth celebrations left visitors well
satisfied and with enough conversation to last until the next.

Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs and is often
still taken seriously, particularly by the direct descendants who can make
the connection to this tradition's roots. During slavery there were laws on
the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of the
enslaved. During the initial days of the emancipation celebrations, there
are accounts of former slaves tossing their ragged garments into the creeks
and rivers and adorning themselves with clothing taken from the plantations
belonging to their former 'masters'.


Juneteenth And Society


In the early years, little interest existed outside the African American
community in participation in the celebrations. In some cases, there was
outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public property for the
festivities. Most of the festivities found themselves out in rural areas
around rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such
as fishing, horseback riding and barbecues. Often church grounds were the
site for such activities. Eventually, as African Americans became land
owners, land was donated and dedicated for these festivities. One of the
earliest documented land purchases in the name of Juneteenth was organized
by Rev. Jack Yates. This fund-raising effort yielded $1000 and made possible
the purchase of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas. In Mexia, the local
Juneteenth organization purchased Booker T. Washington Park, which had
become the Juneteenth celebration site in 1898. There are accounts of
Juneteenth activities being interrupted and halted by white landowners
demanding that their laborers return to work. However, it seems most allowed
their workers the day off and some even made donations of food and money.
For decades these annual celebrations flourished, growing continuously with
each passing year. In Booker T. Washington Park, as many as 20,000 African
Americans once attended during the course of a week, making the celebration
one of the state's largest.


Juneteenth Celebrations Decline


Economic and cultural forces led to a decline in Juneteenth activities and
participants beginning in the early 1900's. Classroom and textbook education
in lieu of traditional home and family-taught practices stifled the interest
of the youth due to less emphasis and detail on the lives of former slaves.
Classroom textbooks proclaimed Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of
January 1, 1863 as the date signaling the ending of slavery - and mentioned
little or nothing of the impact of General Granger's arrival on June 19th.

The Depression forced many people off the farms and into the cities to find
work. In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves
to celebrate this date. Thus, unless June 19th fell on a weekend or holiday,
there were very few participants available. July 4th was already the
established Independence holiday and a rise in patriotism steered more
toward this celebration.


Resurgence


The Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's yielded both positive and
negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. While it pulled many of
the African American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality,
many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors.
This was evidenced by student demonstrators involved in the Atlanta civil
rights campaign in the early 1960's, who wore Juneteenth freedom buttons.
Again in 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through the
Poor Peoples March to Washington D.C. Rev. Ralph Abernathy's call for people
of all races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to Washington
to show support for the poor. Many of these attendees returned home and
initiated Juneteenth celebrations in areas previously absent of such
activities. In fact, two of the largest Juneteenth celebrations founded
after this March are now held in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.


Texas Blazes The Trail


On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday through the
efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful
passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration
granted official state recognition. Edwards has since actively sought to
spread the observance of Juneteenth all across America.


Juneteenth In Modern Times


Today, Juneteenth is enjoying a phenomenal growth rate within communities
and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the
Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring
Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of local and
national Juneteenth organizations <https://juneteenth.com/registry/>  have
arisen to take their place along side older organizations - all with the
mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African
American history and culture.

Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while
encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. As it
takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events
of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this
fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing.

The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states
creating Juneteenth committees continues to increase.  Respect and
appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working
together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates
new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed brightens
our future - and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth
<https://juneteenth.com/aboutjuneteenth/> .

On June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act into law establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

GOD BLESS,

 

Dr. Joyce Taylor, VP, MSCC

Communities of Faith Leadership Team

 

 

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