Join Sinclair College at their Juneteenth Celebration!

June 18, 2021 11:30AM EST

This will be an online event via Zoom.

The Myths About Juneteenth

The Washington Post – “Democracy Dies in Darkness.
Reporter: Nicole Ellis
By: AFI – Odelia Scruggs June 18, 2020

MYTH 1
1. The real oldest celebration of the end of slavery takes place in Gallipolis, a town in Southern Ohio. That celebration began on 9/22/1863, a year after the signing of the Preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.
2. Watch Night Services did not begin on eve of January 1, 1863. Most slaves watch and prayed each year on December 31 st as they didn’t know who would be sold the following day, based on debt, etc. of slave owner.

MYTH 2
Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States. Slavery remained in Kentucky and Delaware after June 19, 1865. Slavery ended in Kentucky on August 8, 1865 and Delaware December 6, 1865 also listed as December 18, 1865 when the 13th Amendment was adopted.

MYTH 3
Former slaves took Juneteenth across the South. The fact is that former Texans migrated to other states and carried this celebration with them.

MYTH 4
Texas Slaves didn’t learn they were freed until June 19, 1865. Fact – The War Department’s Office telegraph was sent on January 1, 1863. This proclamation was common knowledge by the time Granger arrived in Galveston. The Proclamation had been adopted in the Federal House of representatives by a vote of 78-51. More than 100 Texas newspapers mentioned the Emancipation Proclamation between 1862 and 1864. The real reason people were still in bondage when the troops arrived was because of local leaders. The Texas Confederate Constitution prohibited manumission. Lincoln’s directive was enforced only when Federal soldiers arrived. Houston was emancipation June 20, 1865, and Austin was emancipated June 23, 1865.

MYTH 5
African Americans have always celebrated Juneteenth. Juneteenth celebration largely died out during Jim Crow Era. The Civil rights Movement brought National recognition to it later. The Poor People’s Campaign focus including a March on Washington and Construction of “Resurrection City” drew attention to economic inequality and poverty. The final ceremonies included a Juneteenth Celebration. Activists took Juneteenth back home with them – a renewal of this celebration. A 2017 Special of ABC sitcom “Black-ish into Popular Culture” helped bring this celebration back into focus.

Researched by Madge Allen, April 1, 2021 (Google Search).

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