I have been working on this website trying to get it ready by June 19th, 2012. As I thought about it I was like “what does Juneteenth mean to me. I know that that is when the slaves in Texas found out they were free. Now it has spread around the nation in 36 states.
Thought Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863 it had minimal immediate effects on most slaves day to day live especially in the south. In the Northern States they celebrate Emancipation Day in September. Freed slaves suffered a lot from small pox to malnutrition. Texas as part of the Confederacy , was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation and though slavery was prevalent in east Texas it was not as common in west Texas where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice.
Funny it took almost 2 years for it to reach Texas. On June 18th, 1865, Union General Gordan Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX to take possession of the state and force the emaciapiton of its slaves.On June 19th 1865 while standing on the balcony of Aston Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”
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 personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year.] Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities and increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings — including Houston’s Emancipation Park, Mexia’s Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin.
I remember back in the 70’s, 80’s when Taylor had the big Juneteeth O.L. Price Reunions. Many people would come from all over the U.S. to celebrate in Taylor. It was on… They still have the celebration here but it is not even close to being the same.
Juneteenth gives us not just the past to celebrate but the evolution to our opportunities to now. We have teachers, preachers, lawyers, Dr.’s, entrepreneurs, stay at home moms (the most important job there is). We have been blessed with hope and the chance to achieve only what our minds limit us to.
Let’s not take this holiday for granted. Even if we cannot celebrate it let’s acknowledge it. We celebrate July 4th and there is nothing wrong with celebrating it and being a good American. But for me “without the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth , July 4th means nothing!