It is 1865, Confederate Gen. publisher and advocate of political, Businessman Robert E. Lee has surrendered, the Byron Miller is economic and social justice who was Juneteenth Civil War is over and President instrumental in the city’s Juneteenth Commissioner: Abraham Lincoln has been ceremonies until her death last year. assassinated, yet the state of Texas Her legacy continues to be perpetuated still practices slavery. It is not until abuse they suffered as a result. And through an endowed scholarship in
June 18 that Union Army Major Gen. those who preferred to maintain the communications at UTSA. This year,
Gordon Granger sails into Galveston status quo for the sake of tranquility Dallas County District Attorney Craig to issue and enforce General Orders were absolved of their guilt. So, you Watkins, the first and only African
No. 3, which freed Texas slaves on see, the Emancipation Proclamation American elected District Attorney in
June 19, 1865, 2 ½ years after the affected all Americans. Texas, will speak at the scholarship
Emancipation Proclamation was Today, people on both sides of the dinner on June 19. issued. It is the first day of absolute issue say they can’t be held Let’s all come together to freedom in Texas. responsible for what their ancestors commemorate this momentous
Flash forward to the present, when did or did not do. I agree. No one today occasion as we remember a unique we continue to reflect and celebrate should be held responsible for slavery. Texas event in history. In addition to this important time in history as And no one, especially African celebrating our past, Juneteenth allows
Juneteenth, although many wonder Americans, should feel any shame us to measure how far we have come why. I’ve also asked myself that because of it. Instead, as Texans, we as a society. And even in this political question. It is clear that race should all embrace Juneteenth for its season, it is a time to set aside our continues to be a difficult topic of uniqueness and importance to all differences and resentments and discussion in America. And some races. celebrate our common interests and the people tend to feel shame about As a result of efforts by Democratic advances our country has made. slavery, and thus, Juneteenth. But as State Rep. Al Edwards and former We must teach our children about this we remember the events that led up RepublicanTexas Gov. Bill Clements in unique Texas history. We must tell them to the abolishment of slavery, we 1979, Juneteenth was declared a state how slavery occurred and how it came must look at who was really freed in holiday in Texas. San Antonio has to end. And we must continuously work
1865. Most think it was only blacks consistently had one of the largest to break the chain of resentment and who gained freedom back then, but, Juneteenth celebrations in the state, shame. in a way, whites were also freed. coming second only to Galveston in Remembrance without resolve is
Those who believed that enslaving the early years of the event. This year, hollow. Remembrance without action is other human beings and treating we will again mark the day with useless. The history of slavery does not them like chattel was humane were pageants, parades and festivals. have to be an open wound. Let this be relieved of their ability to cause We will also use the occasion to a call to action and challenge us to be a further oppression. Those who honor the memory and works of the catalyst for continued positive change; detested slavery and worked to end late Kathy Clay Little, a journalist, as we take pride, reflect, and celebrate it were freed of the pain, hostility and newspaper our past always appreciating what
freedom means to all.