Juneteenth

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free..." From the Emancipation Proclamation

 

 

Growing up in church, for as far back as I can remember, I have been in church on New Year's Eve.

We call it "Watch Night Service".  We begin service at 9:00PM and continue until midnight when the pastor would lead us in a corporate prayer to pray into the New Year.  We have testimony service of what God has done for us over the year, ministers will preach sermonettes and the choir sings. Actually, a great majority of churches do this. I always thought, "What are we watching for?" I mean, how can you watch for something and have your eyes closed praying? Were we watching for Jesus to come again? No-the Bible says no man knows the day or the hour.

Then, I finally found out what it meant! The Emancipation Proclamation was read on September 22, 1862 and was to go into effect on January 1, 1863. Slaves gathered together in churches, homes, and buildings to "watch" and see if this great freedom would actually take place and thank God, it did!

But not everyone learned of their freedom right away...

 Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of over 250,000 slaves at the close of the Civil War. The holiday is based on events that occurred mainly in Texas but is now celebrated nationwide. The celebration takes its name from June 19, 1865, the day federal troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Procalmation. Although the Proclamation had taken effect on January 1, 1863, it freed few, if any, slaves.

News of the war's end did not reach Texas until well after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox . Many speculate that the news was deliberately withheld so that slave owners could bring in one last crop. Others believe that the news was delayed because the messenger traveled by mule while some believe the original messenger was murdered en route.

When the news was finally delivered, it was celebrated in great fashion. Over the years, Juneteenth festivals have evolved into day long events which include picnics, parades, music, dancing, and baseball. In Kansas City, events include a parade, a festival at Swope Park, karate and golf tournaments, a baseball game, a theatrical play, and the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth.

 

For more info on Juneteenth: http://www.childrenslit.com/th_juneteenth.html                                          http://www.libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/pennalexander/juneteenth/Juneteenth.index.html

From Crayola.com:

Juneteenth Proclamation Jubilation

   

What took nearly 3 years to travel from Washington, D.C., to Galveston, Texas? Celebrate Juneteenth with a replica of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

 

1. Today information travels instantaneously. So the idea that an important government announcement took almost 3 years to travel from Washington, D.C., to Galveston, Texas, seems unbelievable. Although Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, the slaves in Texas did not hear that they had been freed until June 19, 1865.

2. This announcement prompted spontaneous celebrations in the streets. African Americans celebrate Juneteenth (a combination of June and nineteenth) as a legal holiday in Texas and throughout the United States with parades, prayers, picnics, games, and family gatherings. A reading of the Emancipation Proclamation marks the beginning of many local festivities.

3. Look at a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation in a book or on the Internet. It is handwritten on paper that is now old and fragile. Read the entire Emancipation Proclamation. Notice that early documents were not written with a computer or even a ballpoint pen but perhaps a feather or fountain pen nubs.

4. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. To make a replica of the Emancipation Proclamation, first create paper that appears to have aged. On a recycled foam produce tray, mix Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint in multicultural colors to create a light antique color. With a Crayola Paint Brush, cover watercolor paper with the paint. Blot paint with a paper towel to create the mottled look of antique paper. Dry.

5. Copy the words of freedom found in the first two paragraphs of the Emancipation Proclamation on the treated paper using Crayola Fine Line Markers. Use a fancy, cursive style of writing.

6. Sign the document with a simulated historic writing instrument. Thin brown paint with water until it is the consistency of writing ink. Cut a slanted point on a feather with Crayola Scissors. Dip the feather into the ink and write Lincoln's signature. Blot excess paint with a paper towel. Dry.

7. Decorate your historic document by drawing official ribbons and seals with markers.

• ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Adult supervision is recommended with all children.


• Safety guidelines recommend this art project as suitable for children ages 6 years and older. Adult supervision is required to ensure children's safety.

• Create a timeline leading up to emancipation, putting the proclamation into the historical context of the Civil War.


• Juneteenth remains one of the few U.S. holidays that does not have a commercial component. Identify other non-commercial holidays and speculate on what has protected them from exploitation.


• A legend tells that Abraham Lincoln's messenger to Texas had an ornery mule and that is why the news took so long to arrive. Debate whether the length of time was intentional or accidental.


• Plan a Juneteenth parade with appropriate floats, plays, music, and speakers.


• Older students study the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights to find loopholes which were closed by the Emancipation Proclamation to insure rights for men of all colors. Further study these documents to see that the rights of women were omitted.

This year, we were able to attend our first Juneteenth Celebration at the local Children's Museum. It was fun and educational. My children entered a watermelon eating contest, which was great considering it was 93 degrees and humid! Here are some pics of us: