JUNETEENTH HISTORY: CELEBRATING THE END OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA
Every year on June 19th or Juneteenth 36 states in America commemorate one of the most important events in the American history: the announcement of the abolition of slavery. The announcement was made in 1865 in the US State of Texas. At the same time Juneteenth honors African American heritage.
Although Abraham Lincoln has issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 and it has become effective on January 1st 1863, the everyday lives of the mainly African American slaves was not affected in any way. One of the states vehemently opposing the abolition of slavery was Texas, especially in the Western part of the state slavery was prevalent. Slavery was not common in the Eastern part of the state inhabited by German-Americans that were opposed to the practice of slavery.
The Texan practice of slavery was ended by Union General Gordon Granger and his 2000 men who have arrived in Galveston on June 18th. They came to take possession of the state and enforce President Lincolns orders to free every slave everywhere. According to the legend, General Granger read the contents of General Order number 3 that declared the following:
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.
Juneteenth is celebrated since the year following the above declaration in Galveston. Since then, in the memory of abolishing slavery in America, the Emancipation Proclamation is being read in public, traditional songs are being sung in the streets and poems by African American authors, such as Maya Angelou, are read but people dont forget about the parades, rodeos, street fairs and dancing contest that express their happiness about getting rid of the most inhumane practice in America.
Right now only 36 of the 50 American states commemorate Juneteenth, but it could soon become a national holiday.
Although Abraham Lincoln has issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862 and it has become effective on January 1st 1863, the everyday lives of the mainly African American slaves was not affected in any way. One of the states vehemently opposing the abolition of slavery was Texas, especially in the Western part of the state slavery was prevalent. Slavery was not common in the Eastern part of the state inhabited by German-Americans that were opposed to the practice of slavery.
The Texan practice of slavery was ended by Union General Gordon Granger and his 2000 men who have arrived in Galveston on June 18th. They came to take possession of the state and enforce President Lincolns orders to free every slave everywhere. According to the legend, General Granger read the contents of General Order number 3 that declared the following:
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.
Juneteenth is celebrated since the year following the above declaration in Galveston. Since then, in the memory of abolishing slavery in America, the Emancipation Proclamation is being read in public, traditional songs are being sung in the streets and poems by African American authors, such as Maya Angelou, are read but people dont forget about the parades, rodeos, street fairs and dancing contest that express their happiness about getting rid of the most inhumane practice in America.
Right now only 36 of the 50 American states commemorate Juneteenth, but it could soon become a national holiday.
FREEDOM OR FREE
By Sister Siebra Muhammad
Freedom or free are ideas to consider
Both has its might and splendor
One you have and one you are
Yet the one you are is the greatest by far
Freedom or free which do I prefer to have or be
To have freedom is an illusion it can be taken away is the conclusion
No matter how small or large there is a potential to be trapped
For under freedom it has limitations as a dome is something capped
Look around there is no end to space
To be free is equal to the line above in this case
I am free are the words written all over my face
How say ye on having freedom or being free
The choice is clear you only have to look to see
To be is to have is divine
Except to have can turn to have not in no matter of time
Do not be mistaken when you have it can very well be taken
Many slaves that received freedom felt they were forsaken
Some tried to go back to their taskmaster
Knowing that hell did not stop their feet from running faster
Why you may sigh on ~ yet what did they have to rely on?
Familiarity brought about complacency that led to contempt
Imagining how having freedom could be followed by thoughts of resentment
You might be thinking that was way back when
There is no difference between today and then
Oh but on the contrary not necessarily
Today if you choose to have freedom instead of being free
Rest assure you will not doubt repeat the former slaves history
Presently there is a cost to be free it is a high price to pay
Paid by plenty of sacrifices most opt to turn away
Could this reaction be due to the large expenditure?
Making it easier to go against ones nature
Before I conclude do not let me elude
To reiterate the power in being free
Is to be and that is everlasting indeed
And to be is forever multiplied by infinity
Freedom or free one you have and one you be
This decision excludes the Almighty
The decision is at hand for all of humanity
Would you rather have or would you rather be?
A hint to you from me the power lies in being free!