Juneteenth is upon us

[Silverback]

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

Link to official site

Wikipedia

[rgrokelley]

I wondered what that meant. Recently I had drove up to Valley Forge to do a talk on the Revolution. We were a bit lost in Philadelphia, and I saw a street sign that was called "Juneteenth Street". I thought it was probably a joke.

Get it now.

Now, the question is, why is June 19th, 1865 considered the African American Emancipation Day, when there were still slaves in the US on that date? The 13th Amendment, the article that stopped all slavery, did not take effect until December 1865. Texas didn't ratify it until 1870, but that wasn't due to any fault of the Texas legislature. The infrastructure of Texas had been broken down into several Army districts during Reconstruction and the legislature had no control.

[rgrokelley]

Most of what folks know about history is covered in myth, half-truths, and downright lies. For example, Paul Revere did not ride around yelling "the British are coming". There was no Betsy Ross who made the first US flag. George Washington did not chop down a cherry tree or have wooden teeth.

Etc, etc, etc.

I went to the Wikipedia article on June-teenth, and I think someone is pretty fast and loose with history, creating a myth more than reality. Now I know why the date of June 19, 1865 is celebrated as the "African American Emancipation day". From the wikipedia article, a Union General arrived in Galveston on that date and proclamed:

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.

Now, read the paragraph and it makes a bit more sense. June of 1865 was two months after Lee surrendered at Appomattox. There were elements of the Confederate military forces still around. Though the Union General announces that the Emancipation Proclamation will be in effect at Galveston, he did not have the power or the logistics to actually free the slaves. So what he is telling them is that they aren't slaves anymore, but are now "hired labor" of their plantation owners. He also tells them that they are to remain on the plantations, and work, "quietly". He also tells them that they cannot leave and come to the military posts, and be "supported in idleness".

It is a bit of a hollow victory, that would not change until the 13th Amendment took effect. Even then, due to the hostility and hatred caused by Reconstruction, true freedom would not come for another 100 years.

However, modern historical holidays do not always rely on history