Lest we all forget
Today is Juneteenth. It is the name for a holiday celebrating June 19, 1865, the day when Union soldiers arrived in Texas and spread the word that President Lincoln had delivered his Emancipation Procalamation. News traveled so slowly in those days and Texas did not hear of Lincoln’s Proclamation, which he gave on January 1, 1863, until more than two years after it was issued! Although Juneteenth has been informally celebrated each year since 1865, it wasn’t until June 3, 1979, that Texas became the first state to proclaim Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) an official state holiday. But it is much more than a holiday. Juneteenth has become a day for African Americans to celebrate their freedom, culture, and achievements. It is a day for all Americans to celebrate African American history and rejoice in their freedom.
So, for those of you who make fun of Big Ol’ Texas, well, they have given us a lot to be grateful for, including several of our Scissorheads, and my unindicted co-conspirator and partner in crime, TexBetsy. But there is that whole Chimpy thing, of course.
More affirmative action bullshit. Where’s MY holiday?
- Whitey McCracker
juneteenth celebrations are a lot of fun. it’s amazing to see a race of people that have been so maligned throughout our nation’s history be able to embrace, and even celebrate, the good that came from the atrocities of slavery.
now if we could just get them to reciprocate the contributions by the glbt community in the AA community’s struggle for civil rights, we might be getting somewhere.
think about it…juneteenth AND glbt pride in the same month. the co-celebration opportunities are FAAAAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS.
News didn’t travel THAT slowly. Please tell me you were being facetious and I just didn’t get it. Texas *knew* about the proclamation, but they were not part of the country that issued the proclamation! Lee didn’t surrender until April of 1865 – and the last of the states that gave up didn’t happen until May 10th or so. Juneteenth is the day the Union came in to Texas, taking control and enforcing the proclamation. It has become symbolic of the proclamation taking effect in the south, but that obviously was a patchy event across the region.
Welcome to MPS Intron – It is good to have you with us.
This is the way Juneteenth is documented now. I’m afraid I’m too young to know the real story.
Regards,
Tengrain
Thanks for the welcome, I have been lurking for a long time – just never commented. Love the site, btw.
BUT….. even Wikipedia notes:
“Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Texas was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas, particularly the Hill Country, where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice. Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves.”
I think claiming lack of presence at the event doesn’t cover for a pretty weak description of why Juneteenth is important.
Sucks that my first comment is critical – sorry about that.
Intron – I’m being sincere: thank you for the update/correction. I pride myself (such as it is) in keeping the snark accurate.
And it doesn’t suck that your first comment is a correction. Trust me, just about everyone here has corrected me at least once. It just means you fit right in.
Best regards,
Tengrain
It is my understanding that some in Texas have still not gotten word.