History Of Juneteenth—Juneteenth 2012
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the celebration to mark the end of slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, landing at Galveston, Texas, made the announcement that the Civil War was over and that slaves were free.
(Above–Ashton Villa. It was from the balcony of this house that the Emancipation Proclamation was read in the event now known as Juneteenth. Photo by Nick Saum www.nicksaumphotography.com)
Juneteenth for 2012 will be Tuesday, June 19th.
( Here is a listing of 2012 Juneteenth events in Galveston, Houston and College Station.)
It is important that we all be aware of Juneteenth. The freedom of all people is connected. If any group of Americans does not have all their rights, than we are all denied our rights.
Here is information on Juneteenth from the very useful Handbook of Texas Online.
From the Handbook—
“On June 19 (“Juneteenth”), 1865, Union general Gordon Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, thus belatedly bringing about the freeing of 250,000 slaves in Texas. The tidings of freedom reached slaves gradually as individual plantation owners read the proclamation to their bondsmen over the months following the end of the war. The news elicited an array of personal celebrations, some of which have been described in The Slave Narratives of Texas (1974). The first broader celebrations of Juneteenth were used as political rallies and to teach freed African-Americans about their voting rights. Within a short time, however, Juneteenth was marked by festivities throughout the state, some of which were organized by official Juneteenth committees.”
Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it took time for word to get around that slavery was over. People went around for two years not knowing they were free.
After Juneteenth came the failure of Reconstruction and over 100 years of Jim Crow. Many people had their lives wasted in these years due to the racist beliefs of political leaders and of many everyday citizens.
Here is a history of Reconstruction.
Here is a history of Jim Crow.
Here is a collection of links that form a history of slavery in the United States.
These folks think Juneteenth should be a holiday.
( I’ve also written the best Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List on the web. Please click here to see this list.)
Below is a picture of a man who was a slave and who was whipped many times.
The man in the picture above had no choice about his fate in life.
Even today we remain not in full control of our fates. Circumstance and chance play a role in life.
Sometimes our freedom is restricted by our self-imposed limits of imagination. Other times our freedom is challenged by the actions of the wealthy and powerful.
In any case, we must always press ahead towards freedom and emancipation. There is always progress to be made and great victories to be won.
The freedom of all people is connected and the work of freedom is up to each of us.
Facts About Juneteenth—The Freedom Of All People Is Connected
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the celebration to mark the end of slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, landing at Galveston, Texas, made the announcement that the Civil War was over and that slaves were free.
(Above–Ashton Villa. It was from the balcony of this house that the Emancipation Proclamation was read in the event now known as Juneteenth. Photo by Nick Saum www.nicksaumphotography.com)
Juneteenth for 2011 will be observed on Sunday, June 19.
It is important that we all be aware of Juneteenth. The freedom of all people is connected. If any group of Americans does not have all their rights, than we are all denied our rights.
Here is information on Juneteenth from the very useful Handbook of Texas Online.
From the Handbook—
“On June 19 (“Juneteenth”), 1865, Union general Gordon Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, thus belatedly bringing about the freeing of 250,000 slaves in Texas. The tidings of freedom reached slaves gradually as individual plantation owners read the proclamation to their bondsmen over the months following the end of the war. The news elicited an array of personal celebrations, some of which have been described in The Slave Narratives of Texas (1974). The first broader celebrations of Juneteenth were used as political rallies and to teach freed African-Americans about their voting rights. Within a short time, however, Juneteenth was marked by festivities throughout the state, some of which were organized by official Juneteenth committees.”
Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it took time for word to get around that slavery was over. People went around for two years not knowing they were free.
After Juneteenth came the failure of Reconstruction and over 100 years of Jim Crow. Many people had their lives wasted in these years due to the racist beliefs of political leaders and of many everyday citizens.
Here is a history of Reconstruction.
Here is a history of Jim Crow.
Here is a collection of links that form a history of slavery in the United States.
These folks think Juneteenth should be a holiday.
Here is a list on Juneteenth events in Houston for 2011.
( I’ve also written the best Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List on the web. Please click here to see the list.)
Below is a picture of a man who was a slave and who was whipped many times.
The man in the picture above had no choice about his fate in life.
Even today we remain not in full control of our fates. Circumstance and chance play a role in life.
Sometimes our freedom is restricted by our self-imposed limits of imagination. Other times our freedom is challenged by the greed of the wealthy and powerful.
In any case, we must always press ahead towards freedom and emancipation. There is always progress to be made and great victories to be won.
You Can Laugh At Trump Or Palin—Just Be Certain You Don’t End Up In A Concentration Camp
You can laugh or think you know more than people like Donald Trump…..
(Below–Donald Trump. Picture by David Shankbone.)
Sarah Palin…..
(Below–Sarah Palin. Photo by T Toes.)
Ron Paul…..
(Below–Ron Paul. Photo by Gage Skidmore.)
And Michele Bachmann.
( Below–Michele Bachmann.)
Just be sure you don’t end up in a concentration camp or living in a dictatorship of some kind.
(The best political history I am aware of Nazi Germany is the three-volume history of Nazi governance of Germany by Richard J. Evans.)
If you think these things can’t happen here, review the history of Native Americans who were almost wiped out by the genocidal policies and actions of the American government and the American people.
Think of Black Americans who have been forced to confront hundreds of years of slavery and Jim Crow.
Nazi Germany was a place you would recognize. There were newspapers, radio, cars, movies, and a politics of left and right in the years leading up to Nazi Germany. These things can happen in the most modern and up-to-date societies.
You are mistaken to give any benefit of the doubt at all to people in our nation who would eliminate the social safety net, deny the facts on where the President was born, establish propaganda channels like Fox News, blame immigrants for our troubles, and slash education funding to the bone so we are all ignorant.
You can laugh at people who believe crazy things. You can think you are smarter than Sarah Palin. You can see Donald Trump as a clown.
History tells us time after time that nothing is so horrible it can’t come true.
It is up to each of us as individuals to make the decision to work together to be certain that people we see as ”stupid, or “ignorant” or as “clowns” don’t end up with the power to dictate our futures and ruin our lives.
Governor Perry Correct To Call For Prayer To End Drought—Maybe Plagues Are Being Visited Upon Texas For Neglect Of The Poor And We Should Pray For A Better Governor
( Above–It is hot and dry in Texas)
These three days run from April 22 to April 24.
Here is the link to the official proclamation.
From the proclamation—
WHEREAS, these dire conditions have caused agricultural crops to fail, lake and reservoir levels to fall and cattle and livestock to struggle under intense stress, imposing a tremendous financial and emotional toll on our land and our people; and
WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;
This is good. Texans of all kinds find solace and hope in prayer. Governor Perry is right to call upon Texans to consider the hard times that many in our state are dealing with at the moment.
However, if prayer is a possible solution to the drought impacting all Texans, it could also be so that the drought is a plague being visited upon Texas from God for how hard our hearts our towards the poor and most vulnerable in our state.
Governor Perry and our Texas legislature are currently considering brutal cuts to our state budget. These cuts would hurt some of the most needy and most hard-working Texans.
Texans have the option to pray for Governor Perry to be a more decent human being. Texans have the option to pray that we consider climate science as we deal with droughts and hurricanes in the Lone Star State.
Here is a 1953 Life Magazine article reporting how Texans at that time also dealt with a drought and prayed for rain. Maybe at that time Texans were being punished for Jim Crow laws. Maybe Texas has been on the wrong side of God for a long time.
Prayer and concern for others is of great value. At the same time, we must recall John Kennedy‘s words” that here on Earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
(Below–The Seventh Plague as painted in 1823 by John Martin. The seventh plague visited upon Egypt by God was as follows–“And Moses stretcheth out his rod towards the heavens, and Jehovah hath given voices and hail, and fire goeth towards the earth, and Jehovah raineth hail on the land of Egypt’
Gay Takeover Of Houston Underway—Let’s Have Both Social And Economic Justice In Our City
The openly gay Annise Parker has been elected Mayor of Houston.
Also, gay folks were elected to two of the five city council seats that are elected by the entire city.
(Correction–-A reader points out I am mistaken about the number of city at-large spots won by a gay candidate. It is one instead of two. Please see the comments below. Thanks to blog reader Horwitz for the help. One less solider for the gay takeover! )
Some on the right had warned of a “gay takeover” of Houston if these people were to be elected.
The gay takeover is here.
It seems to be going okay so far.
I’ve made myself a cup of tea and later I’ll do some reading before bed.
I think I can used to living in our new “gayocracy” here in Houston.
I hope these gay folks do a better job than straight folks have done of running this city.
Houston has had a black Mayor in recent years despite being the largest Jim Crow city in the U.S. in 1960.
Ms. Parker and her partner adopted black kids. You see the kids, now adults, in the grainy picture above that I took off of my T.V.
It really is all something of a miracle—Though a miracle that many worked hard to make happen.
Houston has plenty of problems. We have a lot of poor people in Houston.
But we must also be glad for the progress that has been made since Houston was the largest Jim Crow city in the United States.
Let’s now work for economic justice as well to match the ongoing process in our social relations.
What Is Juneteenth?—It Is Up To You To Learn About Your Freedom
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the celebration to mark the end of slavery in the United States.
On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, landing at Galveston, Texas, made the announcement that the Civil War was over and that slaves were free.
Please click here for a list of Juneteenth celebrations and observances in the United States.
Here is information on Juneteenth from the very useful Handbook of Texas Online.
From the Handbook—
“On June 19 (“Juneteenth”), 1865, Union general Gordon Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, thus belatedly bringing about the freeing of 250,000 slaves in Texas. The tidings of freedom reached slaves gradually as individual plantation owners read the proclamation to their bondsmen over the months following the end of the war. The news elicited an array of personal celebrations, some of which have been described in The Slave Narratives of Texas (1974). The first broader celebrations of Juneteenth were used as political rallies and to teach freed African Americanabout their voting rights. Within a short time, however, Juneteenth was marked by festivities throughout the state, some of which were organized by official Juneteenth committees.”
Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863, it took time for word to get around that slavery was over. People went around for two years not knowing they were free.
The knowledge you need for your freedom is out there. You just may not be aware.
It’s up to you to gain the knowledge you require about your history. I mean this for people of all colors because history is a shared thing. The fate of all people is connected.
The knowledge you need is on-line, in books, and at the library. You don’t need money if you are willing to learn.
You are intelligent and you are able to gain the knowledge you need.
Of course— just because someone says that you are free, does not mean that you really are free.
After Juneteenth was the failure of Reconstruction and over 100 years of Jim Crow.
Here is a history of Reconstruction.
Here is a history of Jim Crow.
Here is a collection of links that form a history of slavery in the United States.
( I’ve also written what I think is the best Martin Luther King Reading & Reference list on the web. Please click here to see the list.)
Below is a picture of a man who was a slave and who was whipped many times by his overseer.
The man in the picture above had no choice about his fate in life.
And even today we are not in full control of our fates. Circumstance and chance play a role in life.
Yet you have the option to learn about your freedom and to conduct yourself as a free person.
I ask all people to make use of this option.
Creation Story Of Reconstruction Era Blacks
Below is a creation story as told by black preachers in Reconstruction era America. It comes from the book The Age of Lincoln by Orville Vernon Burton.
From the book—
“Throughout the southern states whites heard a different version of the creation story. In His own image, African American preachers declared, God created Adam and Eve black. They turned white, and the hair straightened, from sin and guilt, from encountering God after eating the forbidden fruit.”
As you can guess, stories like this did not go over well with southern whites. Black preachers, black folks, and whites sympathetic to black progress in the years after the Civil War were routinely harassed, attacked and killed in the post Civil War South.
Reconstruction was a time of great potential and tragic failure. It’s a time in our history that merits study by all Americans. While 2008 is a better day than 1875, you can still see today many echos of a brutal past.
PBS has good information on Reconstruction.
Eric Foner’s Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 is a leading history of this time.
It remains hard to imagine that all that blood was shed in the Civil War and black folks still had to endure 100 more years of Jim Crow.
Nothing is so lousy that it can not come true. The work of freedom is never done.