"Juneteenth" Topic

Juneteenth – 19 Jun, Monday – today …

That is the date chosen that the slaves in TX, found out they were freed. In reality Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation with the size of the USA and communications being as it was at that time. Some did not know about this until months after the war in some cases.

Regardless it is a historically accurate piece of our past and should be remembered. So again, this is the day on the calendar that was chosen to celebrate. As I and many others say all the time, we have to remember our history, the good, the bad & the very ugly …

It is part of our history … Not White history, not Black history … but America history …

If nothing else it is a good day to have a Summer BBQ, be with friends, etc. And remember why …

here here

Put out my flag; it should be as much an American holiday as any other, regardless of race or background.

Well said.

I'm just looking for a Juneteenth statue that some friends and I can tear down.
I believe that is the current preferred method of celebrating history.

There is never a bad reason to have a BBQ

I learned of Juneteenth decades ago when my wife & I moved to Galveston where she attended medical school. I worked at the food stamp office & my Afro American coworkers would take a vacation day if they could as it wasn't a state or federal holiday back then. There would be a parade & music at the city park bandshell. I ditto Frederick as to BBQ.

I was happily surprised this morning when I turned on The History Channel. Instead of the usual Pawn Stars or Ancient Aliens, they had on an actual documentary (heavily dramatized) about U S Grant. It was nice of them to recognize the Americans who actually ended slavery.

I was totally unaware of Juneteenth until a customer told
me about celebrating it. That was back around 1996. I was
astounded of the delay in their freedom. I had always taken for granted that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation would have been in papers nationwide. There was a good PBS show today on the Buffalo Soldiers.

Yes, Happy Juneteenth!

Interesting…

youtu.be/b5YEKPiNwu0

Being from Texas, I've been aware of Juneteenth events and celebrations as long as I can recall. However, since it is an event specific to those in Texas, for the longest time, I'd assumed it was not really known about outside Texas. Regardless, I find encouragement in how its recognition in Texas has been adopted nationally.

I had always taken for granted that Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation would have been in papers nationwide.

While it was in the "northern" newspapers, news of the proclamation would not necessarily been in the "southern" newspapers. And even if it was, it would have been reported negatively. Plus probably 99% of the slaves could not read and even if they could might not have access to newspapers.

Jim

Stryderg – I get the irony.

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an actual documentary (heavily dramatized) about U S Grant. It was nice of them to recognize the Americans who actually ended slavery.

Yes I watched part of it today. Have seen it a number of times. Pretty good. But yes, White Northerns, mostly young men and in some cases boys. Fought in the Union Army suffering many KIAs, WIAs, MIAs. To reunite the USA. And in turn freeing the slaves as the CSA had to be defeated to actually make that happen. About 200,000 Blacks served in the Union forces by wars end. In what were called "Colored" Rgts., etc., IIRC …

There was a good PBS show today on the Buffalo Soldiers.

I think I have seen that. A TV movie of the same name with many well-known Black actors was very good. This movie also showed how the Indigenous Peoples[formerly American Indians] interacted etc. with the US military, etc.

Again, we need to know the good, the bad and the ugly of our history accurately – American History …

I figured people would know it was a joke since I don't have any friends.

In my hometown in central Kansas, the celebration was held in August. The news spread at different rates to different places.

Grelber

While it was in the "northern" newspapers, news of the proclamation would not necessarily been in the "southern" newspapers. And even if it was, it would have been reported negatively. Plus probably 99% of the slaves could not read and even if they could might not have access to newspapers.

Yes that is true … However, IIRC a Union GEN[forget his name?] read the proclamation in the middle of town in Galveston. So yes, the word spread rather quickly in some cases …

I figured people would know it was a joke since I don't have any friends.

I thought it was funny ! But I have an odd sense of humor … 😎

There is never a bad reason to have a BBQ

AMEN to that !!!!! 🥩🍗🍖🍻

What's awesome is that we get Memorial Day off, then June 19 off two weeks later, then 2 weeks after that 4th of July (which is Monday and Tuesday off this year, though I get the entire week every year). At this rate, I'll never survive until Labor Day! We need another bank holiday in August! Or maybe the entire month off like in some other countries? 🤔

My only beef is the name "Juneteenth". That could refer to the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, or 19th but I don't have a Time Machine or standing to argue the point.

Mister Tibbles sounds like you have good job ! But I'm retired so every is off ! 😎

My only beef is the name "Juneteenth".

Yes, we just have to take what historians say it is. And take it as accurate. But ColCampbell mentioned:

Plus probably 99% of the slaves could not read

IIRC it was illegal in the South to teach a slave how to read. But some still learned regardless.

There were a number of milestones on the road to ending slavery in the U.S. My list starts with July 2, 1777 when Vermont ended slavery and ends on December 18, 1865 when Sec. of State Seward declared the 13th Amendment had been ratified. There is an argument that the final date should be in 1866. If there had been a vote on which milestone to pick for a holiday celebrating the end of slavery, Juneteenth would not have been my first choice.

Wasn't aware of it until a few years ago. When I read about the background it made sense to me. As a federal employee, I was very appreciative of having another holiday during the summer.

The freedom of all Americans should be celebrated. Emancipation and the end of slavery is a high point in American history. And it took the bloodiest war in our history to secure it. Happy Juneteenth to African-Americans and Americans of all races!

Any holiday that celebrates freedom is a holiday worth celebrating.

Yes, freedom should be celebrated by All Americans …