Bay Shore NY
6-13-2023 12:04pm

Juneteenth

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - JUNETEENTH 

Juneteenth. June 19, 1865. A Day in History. We honor this day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas. Originating in Galveston, Juneteenth has since been observed annually in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African American culture. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law after the efforts of Lula Briggs Galloway, Opal Lee, and many others. It's about time we honor this day.

Early celebrations date to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. They spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. Participants in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, these celebrations were eclipsed by the nonviolent determination to achieve civil rights, but grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African American freedom and African American arts. Beginning with Texas by proclamation in 1938, and by legislation in 1979, every U.S. state and the District of Columbia has formally recognized the holiday in some way. With its adoption in parts of Mexico, this holiday has become an international holiday. Juneteenth is celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped from slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.

Celebratory traditions often include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and the reading of works by noted African American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou - my personal favorite. I highly recommend her book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." It is transformative.

Other Juneteenth celebrations may also include rodeos (yes, there are Black cowboys), street fairs, barbeques, family reunions, historical reenactments, and Miss Juneteenth contests. In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was adopted in 1983. The African American legacy in America continues.

So why do we celebrate Juneteenth? On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States. Lucky 13!

But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the western most Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth" by the newly freed people in Texas. It is a signifcant turn of events in our nation's history and the world.

The post-emancipation period known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation as a whole. Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families, establish schools, run for political office, push radical legislation and even sue slaveholders for compensation. Given the 200+ years of enslavement, such changes were nothing short of amazing. Not even a generation out of slavery, African Americans were inspired and empowered to transform their lives and their country. I believe we are still in a Reconstruction period. We must carry on.

Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day. Although it has long been celebrated in the African American community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans. Now you know.

The historical legacy of Juneteenth shows the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a community space where this spirit of hope lives on. A place where historical events like Juneteenth are shared and new stories with equal urgency are told. We are our story.

The Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave. God Bless America.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, we value our freedom more than we did when we were younger. 

SKYLARK'S PICK OF THE WEEK - THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

I love Washington, D.C. It's a special town, and it's where you can visit The National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum is where all Americans can learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped us shape this nation. It is American History.

Some highlights of the museum are the Harriet Tubman's hymnal, Nat Turner’s bible, A plantation cabin from South Carolina, a Guard tower from Angola Prison, Michael Jackson's fedora, and works by prolific artists such as Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Romare Bearden, and Henry O. Tanner. There is so much to see and experience in this sacred place.

For more information, visit www.si.edu/museums/african-american-museum.

SKYLARK'S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” 

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

SKYLARK'S QUESTION OF THE WEEK  

How does African American history play a role in your life?

Please put your answer below in the comment section. I'd love to hear from you.

SKYLARK'S SONG OF THE WEEK - LIFT EVERY VOICE performed by KIRK FRANKLIN 

Often referred to as "The Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was a hymn written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900.

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WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE

Hello and thank you for reading my weekly newsletter, Skylark Live Town News, representing Bay Shore and towns beyond. My articles are about human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and places I've been to and things I want to explore. There is also a calendar of upcoming events. Please consider becoming a subscriber. There are several levels, and it’s easy to do. Just open the newsletter and the subscribe button is there. As a subscriber, you will receive a copy of my newsletter each Wednesday morning in your email. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. You can do it yourself or email me to discuss this at christineskylark@aol.com. You can also PM me. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn under my brand, Skylark Live.

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Please feel free to comment about my article below. I'd love to know what's on your mind.

Thank you for your love and support. Apprezza la giornata. Cherish the day.
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