The 16th Annual JuneteenthOhio Celebration in Columbus, Ohio, will be held in Franklin Park on June 16, 17, and 18th. We encourage all iZania readers to join in the celebration in your local communities.
Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary, author of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, will be the keynote speaker at the opening reception. The reception will be at 6:30 PM on June 15th, at the King Arts Complex, 897 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
The Celebration in Columbus always includes a Father's Day Celebration, hosted by the JuneteenthOhio Committee. This year's Father's Day Tribute will take place in Franklin Park at 4:30 PM on Sunday, June 18th.
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Grangers regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
One of General Grangers first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:
"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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."
Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing. The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states come on board and form local committees and organizations to coordinate the activities.
See Juneteenth.com for more information about the worldwide celebration of Juneteenth.
