To all DUers outside Texas, Juneteenth is almost here!

[Xipe Totec]

From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.


http://www.juneteenth.com/


Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is an official annual holiday in 31 of the United States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

[w8liftinglady]

1. we already have a big bar-b-q planned in my neck of the woods

[Xipe Totec]

2. Being from Texas, I would expect no less!

Carry on, and enjoy!

[orion007]

3. Vermont celebrates with you !

Juneteenth became an official holiday in Vermont last year, the 29th. state to do so.
This year will be our "First Official Celebration "and many events are planned throughout the state.

[Xipe Totec]

4. Yay for Vermont!

My Green Mountain Neighbors to the north!

:bounce:

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Outside Texas?

http://www.juneteenthamerica.us/

[Xipe Totec]

7. Outside because

Texans already know about Juneteenth!

[sonias]

15. June 19, 1865

Free at last, free at last, God Almighty we're free at last! - MLK Jr.

History of the Junteenth Celebration
Texas House Resolution 23 Recognizing Juneteenth as a Holiday

62nd Texas Legislature, 1972, sponsored by Curtis Graves (Houston) and Wesley Zan Homes (Dallas).

Whereas, On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger, representing the United States Government, landed at Galveston and issued a general order from the President of the United States and declared that all slaves were free; and

Whereas, On June 19, 1865, Black people in Texas rejoiced in joining fellow Blacks across the nation who were freed January 1, 1865; and

Whereas, From that day, which is fully six and one-half months after the Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln came into force, Black people in Texas were recognized to be an integral part of our state's social, political, and economic structure; and

Whereas, The Black people in the State of Texas continue to make increasing contributions of the development and culture of the State of Texas; and

Whereas, Blacks serve in many high offices and capacities in Texas, including the State Legislature, where they have made distinctive contributions to the legislative process and in the service of all their constituency; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 62nd Legislature, Third Called Session, honor the Black people of Texas for their contributions to the state; and, be it further

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognize "Juneteenth" as an annual holiday of significance to all Texans, and, particularly, to the Blacks of Texas, for whom this date symbolizes freedom from slavery.

Keep in mind that was 1972.

Hey we just got around to ratifying the 24th amendment this year too.

Texas Monthly June, 2009
Righting a Wrong
The 24th amendment prohibiting the poll tax on voters has been formally approved by the state of Texas—more than four decades later.

(snip)

"All kinds of means were used to disenfranchise voters," Dr. Allen, Democrat from Houston, said. Texas was one of the nine states that had not yet approved it. "We have some lists we don’t want to be on," Allen said. "But we’re going to take us off that list not to go on record with the 24th amendment. It removes a stigma from the state of Texas that we do want to empower everyone to exercise their God-given right to vote, and that sends a very powerful message not only to my constituents but every citizen in the state of Texas."

It is not uncommon for a state to post-ratify an amendment. Mississippi didn’t post-ratify the 13th Amendment to abolish slavery until 1995, one hundred and thirty years after the original amendment was integrated. It was not until 2003 that New Jersey and Ohio both went on record in support of the 14th Amendment, extending the definition of full citizenship to persons of all races, which was incorporated into the Constitution in 1868.

:toast: to Juneteenth! This is will be the best year ever!

Sonia

[ColbertWatcher]

18. Yeah, but lots of other people know too. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

20. I'm glad!

31 states out of 50 is a good start.

I hope the word continues to spread!

[ColbertWatcher]

21. 31 out of 50!? Really? That's all? Damn ...

... well no wonder you said "outside of Texas."

I apologize. I keep forgetting how backwards some places still are.

[Xipe Totec]

22. That's according to my source, the Wiki,

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is an official annual holiday in 31 of the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

But hey, no worries, my only purpose is to get the message across.

:hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Aside from their lies about the elephant population, Wikip*dia is fairly accurate.

So long as you verify the sources.

Oh, and in the time it took to read this post, the world population of elephants has tripled.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. This Native Texan is checking in!!

Party on with good Barbecue! :bounce: :toast:

[Xipe Totec]

8. Party on indeed!

I knew you guys already knew what I was talking about!


:hi: :bounce: :party:

[Xipe Totec]

9. Is there any other way?

:rofl:

Party on, dudes! party on!


:bounce:

[Lisa0825]

10. I am planning to be in a parade this Saturday, if I feel up to it.

I can't make the Galveston parade because it is during the week, and I have to work.

[marmar]

11. Newsflash....Many of us outside of Texas know about Juneteenth.....

:think:

[Xipe Totec]

12. That is GREAT news!

That means we are making progress!

I look forward to hearing Pesident Obama's remarks on Juneteenth!

- XT

[marmar]

13. Detroit has had Juneteenth celebrations for years......

[Xipe Totec]

14. As I said, I look forward to his speech n/t

[Number23]

16. Thank you!

:hi:

Kicked and Rec'd

[AlphaCentauri]

17. History of slavery in Texas

:toast:

Really Remember The Alamo
The heroic story of the Alamo stirs the American sense of pride in our independence, courage, and determination to stand for values even when against an overpowering foe. The sacrifice of the American occupants of the Alamo in the face of certain death is far braver than the option of surrender. The various tellings of the story help in the mythmaking process that began shortly after the US press told the story as breaking news. However, the real story behind the myth is far more believable and logical. The heroes of the Alamo didn't die for self-determination.

They died fighting to preserve their way of life, which was threatened by Mexican taxation, government corruption, and most unacceptable to the slave-holding Texans, a growing abolitionist trend in the Mexican government. The rebellion in Texas and the Mexican-American War a decade later have been given the hero making treatment for so long, and have become so endeared in the hearts of U.S. citizens, particularly Texans, that the circumstances have become well obscured over the years. Heroes are supposed to be larger than life, without flaws, and should be seen in "black and white" so they sharply contrast with normal mortals.

http://www.tuppenceworth.ie/Politics/Alamo.html

[EndersDame]

19. Santa Anna turned Mexico into a military dictatorship

Just FYI the whites weren't the only people who had a problem with him.He treated the Tejanos like shit.Other Mexican states went into open rebellion and Texas was the only one that managed to succeed. I see the story of the Alamo as analogous to the war in Iraq. Sure we took out an evil motherfucker who was hurting his people but there were other motives sure.And the Tejanos like the Iraqis ended up getting screwed yet agian.

[AlphaCentauri]

24. But African Americans were free even under Santa Anna dictatorship

the reason other states didn't succeed in their rebelling against the central government was they were not hijacked by foreigners, AKA in XXI century terms guerrilla or mercenaries.

[EndersDame]

25. that is like saying "but Sadam wanted a secular Iraq"

If I rember my Texas History Classes correctly Santa Anna during his military dictatorship forced everyone to become Catholic. And yes Texas did have outside support but the Tejanos fought side by side with the Anglos for independence.It wasnt a totalforgein coup. because SANTA ANNA WAS AN OPPRESSIVE DICTATOR

[AlphaCentauri]

26. We when into Kuwait and we never took possession of that country ruled by dictators

using Santa Anna dictatorship as the very reason to use mercenaries to violate other countries laws doesn't make sense.
Also adopting Catholicism was a condition to immigrate to Tejas and become a Mexican citizen
not a big difference in todays US immigration laws, to get a H1-B visa you must have a college degree and speak english and remember those were XIX century rules.

[EndersDame]

27. Uhhh The TEJANOS wanted him gone as well as other Mexican States

and so did the Texas immigrants. In the Spanish Civil War the liberals gladly accpeted the help of foreigners such as the men of the Lincoln Battalion Brigade

[AlphaCentauri]

28. the point is that in the Tejas "revolution" foreigners fought to make African Americans slaves

not to liberate Mexican Tejanos who actually lost all their political power after the revolt