LEARNING TOGETHER: The Story of America
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official thus ending slavery in America, at least for some. As you will recall our nation was in the middle of the Civil War. The states that had seceded from the Union, took it upon themselves to ignore this Executive Order (which was specifically aimed at them) from the President, therefore some slaves remained in bondage.
With few Union soldiers to enforce this new law, Texas was one of the states that took full advantage of this loophole. Texas slaveowners continued to operate slave plantations. Slaveholders from other states moved their operations to Texas so that they too could continue to profit from the horrible business of human bondage.
There are many theories as to why the news of freedom was withheld from so many slaves in Texas. One was that this news was deliberately withheld by plantation owners who wanted their slaves to continue working the field. They had crops that needed tending to and if they freed their slaves, there wouldn’t have been anyone to work the fields, at least not for free.
Another theory was that the messenger who was to deliver the news of freedom was murdered on his way to Galveston, Texas. Some even said that it was the federal troops who withheld this information to help the slaveholders. Union soldiers fought to save the nation, not necessarily to free Black Americans. Many Union soldiers were just as racists as Confederate soldiers.
It wasn’t until the end of the Civil War, April 9, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation passed before enough federal soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to enforce the law. Finally, slaveowners were forced to release their slaves immediately. General Gordon Granger backed by thousands of soldiers marched to Galveston and announced “General Orders No. 3” which stated that all slaves were free. Over 250,000 slaves in Texas were allowed to move about this land of the free as they pleased…well, sort of.
Sadly, some former slaves were killed as they fled the plantations. To make matters worse, newly freed Blacks had to walk past former slaves hanging from trees. Think about that for a moment. This should give you a sense of the level of hatred that these slaves suffered for years. Some slaveowners would rather murder their slaves than to see them go free.
There were a few former slaves who remained on the plantations. Not to work as slaves but to work as free men and women. But this option was bittersweet. The practice of sharecropping presented its own set of challenges for Black Americans. Basically, sharecropping was just another form of slavery designed by Southern whites and former slaveowners.
Yet, despite the hardships that came with the Reconstruction era, there was cause to celebrate freedom. All Black Americans were finally free. Juneteenth is a combination of the word June and nineteenth. Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, and Black Independence Day are other names for Juneteenth. Which celebrates our history, freedom, achievements, education, self-improvement and bringing families together. Not only is Juneteenth celebrated in Galveston, Texas but it is enjoyed all over the country.
Juneteenth should be important to all Americans because Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom is priceless. Freedom is fluid. Freedom should never be taken for granted especially in America. For what is given can just as easily be taken away. Those who wish to enslave others are not just in our past. If you don’t believe me, go on any social media platforms, and witness real hatred in real time. Even worst today we have political leaders who support this hatred of their fellow Americans. There are national news outlets that boldly promote the hatred of Black and Brown Americans. Our freedom is forever changing in America.
Ironically, it was enslaved people who have demonstrated the greatest American patriotism to a country that treated them less than human. They survived the worse in human bondage yet were proud to be called Americans.
Noteworthy Fact(s)
Juneteenth is the oldest celebration commemorating the end of slavery in America.
On June 17, 2021, President Biden made Juneteenth National Independence Day an official holiday.
OUR HISTORY MATTERS
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