What is Juneteenth? It is a holiday that falls on June 19, 1865, celebrating the freedom of colored people who were enslaved. General Gordon Granger went to Galveston, Texas to announce that all slaves were now free. Although, two years had passed after President Lincoln’s official release of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, it was a historic event worth the wait of celebration for all people of color. Some things I learned on my journey through history were simply eye opening. Slaves were free for two years and didn’t know it. That is mind blowing and I will write about that later this month. In 1980, Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. As we are abruptly awaken by present day current events, from COVID-19 to racial injustice, let us not forget to celebrate our own personal freedoms and small victories in our individual lives. It is so imperative to educate yourselves on history so that you can teach others around you.
As we continue to strive for equality, there is hope that maybe one day soon this can become a federal holiday! Enjoy the poem below…….Happy Juneteenth!
Juneteenth
January 1, 1863 was the official day for President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation;
But, it was two and a half years later before the start of the freedom celebration.
Many attempts were made to explain this delay;
It has remained one of the great mysteries until this day.
One story says the messenger of freedom was murdered on his way to Texas;
This was supposedly the first one of the conspiracy theory nexus.
Another on reports the land owners censored the news to maintain their labor force;
One of the more popular stories, but who was the source?
Yet another tale of federal troops allowing another harvest of cotton;
Of all the dirty tricks, this one was the most rotten.
Regardless of whether any stories gives the correct news;
Many good people in Texas remained without freedom and singing the blues.
Finally in June of 1865, Major General Gordon Granger with a flag and a gun;
Stormed the shores of a Texas town called Galveston.
The Generals first order of business was to announce the news of freedom;
And this time he brought along enough Union troops to make the people heed them.
Some people reacted with shock, while others reacted with complete jubilation;
The news of this day finally spread all over the nation.
Most people could not wait to leave the plantation and start living free;
So, from their home state they started to flee.
Regardless of where they went, they were followed with freedom’s challenges;
These challenges came from making decisions and environmental changes.
They never forgot that joyous 19th day of June;
When people once enslaved could finally sing their freedom tune.
The celebration started with reassuring and praying;
The adults were eating and drinking while the children were playing.
It was also a time for the reuniting of family members;
It was one of the happiest days many of them remembers.
Today it is a day of pilgrimage to that town;
Let the shouts of freedom for all make a holy sound.
Soon the day will come when in unison we say;
“Forever and ever all Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, the freedom holiday”! By Arthur Kroll
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