(NAME-MCE) Juneteenth

[KispokoT at aol.com]

Greetings,
This is the first time I've heard of this holiday.  Very  interesting.  More 
information can be found at: 
_http://www.colapublib.org/services/ethnic/juneteenth.php4_ 
(http://www.colapublib.org/services/ethnic/juneteenth.php4) 
Gina Boltz, Director, 
Native Village Publications  and
Youth Forum for The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous  
Grandmothers 
_http://www.nativevillage.org_ (http://www.nativevillage.org) 
Secretary, Link Center Foundation 
_www.linkcenterfoundation.org_ (http://www.linkcenterfoundation.org)  
 
 
 
JUNETEENTH
Juneteenth (June 19) marks the anniversary of the day in 1865, when General  
Gordon Granger announced the "Emancipation Proclamation" to the slaves in 
Texas.  The slaves in Texas were the very last slaves to be freed after the Civil 
Ward  because Confederate troops fought for several weeks after General Robert 
E.  Lee's surrender.  
There are many variations on the story of why the Texas slaves were not freed 
 until June 19, 1865, some of which have historical documentation. The 
stories  ranged from poor communication technology to the slaveowner's efforts to 
finish  one last harvest.  
Juneteenth has traditionally been celebrated in Texas and other bordering  
states such as Louisiana and Arkansas. However, Black Independence Day (June 19) 
 was celebrated in other areas where a large number of Black Texans lived.  
Juneteenth was celebrated by Black Americans in much the same style as the  
Fourth of July.  
Juneteenth was given official holiday status in Texas in 1979 which means  
that banks, government offices and schools are closed. In other parts of the  
country, Juneteenth is celebrated unofficially.  




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