Juneteenth is a national celebration of freedom and liberty although most Americans do not know about this day. June 19, 1865, union troops brought the news to Galveston, Texas that all slaves were free over two years after Lincoln freed the slaves. Why so late? Because there wasn’t a large union presence in Texas, none of the slave owners were pressed to enforce the new law. General Granger’s first order of business was to deliver “General Order Number 3” which read:
“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 e quality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”
On January 1, 1980, Texas declared this day as a official state holiday. In Washington DC this Juneteenth, law makers will hear several respected officials speak on the need for reparations for slavery. How this country, especially in this south, has made money and accumulated wealth through slavery and a debit is still owed to the slaves how made this wealth for them. Whether you stand for or against reparations, and I am sure I will hear a lot from the against folk, please celebrate that 150 years ago today, slavery officially (on paper only) ended. That is something to be celebrated as we continue to strive for equality.