Jun 19, 2017
Later attempts to explain thistwo and a half year delayin the receipt of this important news have yieldedseveral versionsthat have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who wasmurderedon his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheldby 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 ofone last cotton harvestbefore going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or neither of these version could be true. Certainly, for some,President Lincoln's authorityover the rebellious states was in questionFor whatever the reasons, conditions in Texasremained status quowell 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 3which 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 free laborer."
Thereactions to this profound newsranged from pureshockto immediatejubilation. 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 thedesire to reach family members in neighboring statesdrove the some into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities andthe 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 territory. The celebration ofJune 19thwas 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 anannual pilgrimage back to Galvestonon 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,barbecuingandbaseballare just a few of the typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self improvement. Thus, often guest speakersare brought in and the elders are called upon to recount the events of the past.Prayer serviceswere also a major part of these celebrations.
Certain foods became popularand subsequently synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations such asstrawberry soda-pop. More traditional and just as popular was the barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants couldshare in the spiritand aromas that their ancestors - the newly emancipated African Americans, would have experienced during their ceremonies. Hence, the barbecuepit is often established as thecenter of attentionat Juneteenth celebrations.
Food was abundant because everyone prepared aspecialdish. Meats such as lamb, pork and beef which 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 elementin early Juneteenth customsand 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 slavestossing their ragged garmentsinto the creeks and rivers toadorn clothingtaken from the plantationsbelonging 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 wasoutwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of public propertyfor the festivities.Most of the festivitiesfound themselves out in rural areasaround rivers and creeks that could provide for additional activities such asfishing,horseback ridingandbarbecues.Often the church grounds was 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 byRev. Jack Yates. This fund-raising effort yielded $1000 and the purchase ofEmancipation Park in Houston, Texas. InMexia, the local Juneteenth organization purchasedBooker 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 as20,000 African Americans once flowed throughduring the course of a week,making the celebration one of the state’s largest.
Juneteenth Celebrations Decline
Economic and cultural forces provided for a decline in Juneteenth activitiesand 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 toless emphasis and detail on the activities of former slaves.Classroom text books proclaimed Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 as the date signaling the ending of slavery - and little or nothing on 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 19thfell on a weekendor holiday, there were very few participants available.July 4thwas the already established Independence holiday and a rise in patriotism steered more toward this celebration.
Resurgence
TheCivil 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, whom wore Juneteenth freedom buttons.Again in 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through 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 activity.In fact,two of the largestJuneteenth celebrations founded after this March are now held inMilwaukeeandMinneapolis.
Texas Blazes the Trail
OnJanuary 1, 1980, Juneteenth becamean official state holidaythrough the efforts ofAl 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 aphenomenal growth ratewithin communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as theSmithsonian, theHenry Ford Museumand others have begunsponsoring Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of local and national Juneteenth organizationshave arisen to take their place along side older organizations - all with the mission topromote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.
Juneteenth today,celebrates African American freedom and achievement,while encouragingcontinuous self-developmentandrespect for all cultures. As it takes on amore national, symbolic and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, forall of the roots tie backto this fertile soil from whicha national day of pride is growing.
Thefuture of Juneteenth looks brightas 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.
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