Commission keeping Juneteenth historically alive

The Dallas Morning News ^ | June 19, 2003 | By KIMBERLY DURNAN / Dallas Web Staff

[MeekOneGOP]

Commission keeping Juneteenth historically alive

Panel plans Capitol statue as one way to mark defining moment

06/19/2003

By KIMBERLY DURNAN / Dallas Web Staff

Nearly 140 years later, Texans are still trying to spread the word about the emancipation.

Although President Abraham Lincoln had proclaimed freedom for slaves Sept. 22, 1862, Texas was the last state to officially get the news, when Gen. Gordon Granger read the proclamation in Galveston on June 19, 1865.

To highlight the significance of the day known as Juneteenth, a combination of the words "June" and "19th," the Legislature created the Texas Emancipation Juneteenth Cultural & Historical Commission in 1998.

"We were commissioned to re-create in the minds of the world that Juneteenth actually happened," said commissioner Willard Stimpson of Dallas.

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The commission has received roughly $1 million from the state to erect an emancipation monument at the Capitol that will illustrate the elation slaves felt upon learning they were free. Bids for constructing the monument will be taken this year, and the project is scheduled for completion in 2004.

"We don't know what the final piece is going to look like," Mr. Stimpson said. "The jubilation in the people's faces on the monument should be depicted. The happiness, the joy and the freedom of the people."

The commission also aspires to place monuments and markers throughout the state to identify areas related to the emancipation. A Juneteenth museum, cultural institute and recreation center in Houston are under consideration.

Emphasis on the activities and lives of former slaves waned in the early 1900s before Juneteenth started drawing renewed attention in 1979 – when state Rep. Al Edwards, D-Houston, sponsored the legislation to make it a state holiday. Today, it's celebrated in many other states, including Wisconsin and Colorado, which are known for having large, organized events.

"It has really caught on," he said. "It has outgrown us. We don't even know where all the Juneteenth celebrations are, and that's good." The holiday's impact comes from marking a defining moment in Texas history, said commissioner Maceo Crenshaw Dailey of El Paso.

"There is remarkable drama to Juneteenth," Mr. Dailey said. "It holds a special place in the consciousness of African-Americans."

Mr. Edwards said he would eventually like to see Juneteenth become a national holiday.

But despite its popularity, he said, he is concerned that the day is becoming just another way for grocery stores, radio stations and beer distributors to sell products or an excuse for people to party, he said.

"They are doing nothing about educating the folks, and that's not why we passed this bill," he said. "Juneteenth has meaning and significance. Every celebration should have a prayer, acknowledge the emancipation proclamation ... and why it happened. When we celebrate the Fourth of July, there are parades, they talk about the independence of this country. We have to do the same thing for Juneteenth."

It's important for youth to understand the history of the day, Mr. Stimpson said.

"Most still remember the Juneteenth celebration as the day they eat watermelon, barbecue and red soda water – that's Juneteenth," he said. "We don't want the traditions to die."

E-mail kdurnan@dallasnews.com

[dandelion]

"eat watermelon, barbecue, and red soda water"...

I need to get some BIG RED now! Nothing tastes like a Big Red - except maybe biting a stale tube of Pepsodent, but hey, it's still good when it's cold...

[Notforprophet]

Big Red rules.

But a national holiday of Juneteenth? Don't we already have Lincolns birthday and MLK day? Plus it wouldn't make sense in the eastern states, since they heard the Emancipation Proclamation a full month before June 19th.

I grew up in TX and still think of Juneteenth every year, but these people promoting a Juneteenth celebration as another July 4th Independence Day holiday are off their crock, IMHO.

NFP

[MeekOneGOP]

[Blackyce]

It's certainly worthy of historical recognition and monuments. But we probably dont need to give federal workers another day off.

[dandelion]

And lest we forget, Scrawberry Soda. Man, I thought I was the only person who ever drank those. I need one of them, too. What is it with Red Soda and goodness??

[MeekOneGOP]

You're reminding me of my 'fridge. During the summer I pretty much keep watermelon in there.

Had some last night in fact. Mmmmmm-mmmmm !! :O)

[rustbucket]

The actual Juneteenth proclamation goes like this:

Headquarters, District of Texas
Galveston, Texas, June 19, 1865

General Orders, No. 3.
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 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 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. By order of Major General Granger

(Signed,) F. W. Emery, Maj. & A.A.G.

As reported in The Galveston Daily News, June 21, 1865

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for that informative and interesting bit of news/history !!