June 19 is still as important today as it was in 1865.
The date, coined “Juneteenth,” commemorates the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to free enslaved people — more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. On that day, U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger read, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
Celebrations ensued that night and became a formalized party for “Jubilee Day” the following year on June 19. Over the years, Juneteenth celebrations evolved to include barbecues, music, prayer services and more activities.
Galveston, Texas
In Galveston, Texas, Major General Granger announced General Order No. 3, which stated: “The people 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 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 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.”
A Mirror into our nation’s people of color
The end of slavery is certainly worth celebrating. While much has changed in the nearly 160 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, remnants of slavery’s effects on Black communities persist today in the form of disparate salaries, educational levels and incarceration rates. The pandemic was a mirror into our nation’s people of color and the systematic, daily obstacles they are faced and/or targeted with. Abolishing systematic racism is on our doorstep now and we, again, are fighting for ourselves and those of the next generations. To be truly free from all oppression.
The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others at the hands of the police, and the subsequent protests and trials of the last year, showed us that society still has a long way to go in terms of reparations and interracial peace. We all have the same responsibility- to point out inequities we see. If you’re a police officer your duty is to help us keep the good cops and release the bad, if you’re a hiring manager then stand up for diversity, if you’re a student educate yourself on slavery, racism and the systematic racism we deal with now. When you enter the world you must be armed with knowledge of how the ‘system’ works.
Slavery in any of its form, may never be over. To achieve that we would need to change a lot of hearts and deep beliefs. One day we all hope for an oppression and racist free society for our children and our children’s children. We must keep moving towards the goal of passing the baton to the next generation and maybe, just maybe they will be in a much better position to take the cause forward towards the end.
How to celebrate Juneteenth
Celebrating Juneteenth helps empower Black communities as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year of social unrest. Here in San Antonio you can celebrate in many ways. One jam packed Juneteenth fair includes photo booths, art showcase, vendors, live music, food trucks, and even a kids play area! This event will be hosted by the SA Juneteenth Block Party/Fair by Dream Big Scholarship Fund Inc., this Saturday, the 19th, from 3pm-9pm at the Alamo Beer Company: 202 Lamar, San Antonio, TX 78205. More information and registration for this event can be found at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sa-juneteenth-block-partyfair-tickets-150314846753.
Happy Juneteenth!
