Tuesday, June 15, 2010

so what is juneteenth anyways?

juneteenth is a holiday that was started, and is mainly celebrated, in the south, and it is such a controversial subject amongst the black community!

"how could you celebrate that?"
"how could you not celebrate that?"

whether you do or don't, don't know if you want to or not, here are the facts.

in 1862 lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation which declared the freedom of all slaves.

now texas, being texas, refused to free their slaves...surprise, surprise. it wasn't until 3 years later, on june 19, 1865, that union soldiers landed in galveston, texas with the news that the enslaved were free.

so there you have it. juneteenth.

why so controversial?

well, some folks feel like, "why would i celebrate the fact that texas waited three years, after the fact, to free their slaves?", whereas others celebrate it as independence day/freedom day/emancipation day for african americans.

you decide for you.