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Juneteenth: Juneteenth Celebrations
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In many ways, Juneteenth celebrations resembled the traditional commemoration of the Fourth of July. The day usually began with a prayer service, followed by speeches filled with messages of inspiration, hope, and encouragement. There would always be a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and testimonies, or the telling of life stories, by former slaves. Underlying the revelry and merriment were serious messages about the importance of education, self-reliance, and self-improvement.
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The Civil 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 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 largest Juneteenth celebrations founded after this March are now held in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.
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In the years immediately following the Civil War, African Americans often met with resistance from the white community to the celebration of Juneteenth. To insure that the tradition of Juneteenth would continue without interruption, many black communities purchased "emancipation grounds" and moved the celebrations to private property where white authorities could not interfere with them. Some of the original sites, such as Emancipation Park in East Austin, Texas and Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia, Texas, are still in use today.
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The June 19th tradition is called Juneteenth and it is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas. Although it began as day of rejoicing for former Texas slaves and their descendents, the celebrations have spread as a day that commemorates African American Independence and freedom world-wide.
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Guest speakers were and are still an important part of Juneteenth celebrations, focusing on education and personal improvement. The elderly were ... called upon to recount events in the past. The "Mule Legend" is often shared at Juneteenth celebrations. This story tells about a black man who rode a mule from Washington, D. C., to Texas with a letter from Lincoln notifying the slaves that they were free, a humorous attempt at explaining the two-year delay.
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Saturday June 19th marked the day of Harlem’s Juneteenth celebration on 116th St. and Lenox. The celebration was fortunately marked by pleasant weather, of which attendants were grateful for. Juneteenth is an annual celebration of the late emancipation of Texas’ slaves. It has bloomed to a celebration of family unity communal advancement.
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Juneteenth Celebrations