Two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, 2,000 Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to declare that enslaved people in Confederate states were legally free. Until that time, Texas had remained under Confederate rule, which along with other nefarious motives is thought to have caused the delay in the dissemination of the Proclamation.
General Order Number 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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”
Since that day, June 19, 1865, has been embraced as a symbol of emancipation and celebrated as Juneteenth. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, “Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day. Though it has long been celebrated among the African American community, it is a history that has been marginalized and still remains largely unknown to the wider public.” With the declaration of Juneteenth in cities like Baltimore, this may start to change.
The holiday experienced a resurgence during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and under past administrations, there was growing momentum to create a national holiday. Given recent history and the ways in which our fellow citizens are routinely denied their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we are obligated to meditate on the legacy of slavery and act accordingly. There are a multitude of joyful ways that African Americans have built their culture in the United States, and have made remarkable contributions to the country’s success—a success that, sadly, is once again being threatened with erasure.
Like the celebration of the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr., marking a date is not adequate. It does, however, confer a weight and formal articulation of respect. It commands that the country as a whole pause and remember, not just the celebration but the continued struggle for human rights, freedom, and what should be the soul of the nation. Celebrations such as these encourage reflection, as well as response, cultural engagement, creative action, and opportunities to build ongoing dialogue.
With respect,
Jeannie
