America’s Newest Federal Holiday…
…that you may not know about.
Maybe you missed it last year. In 2021 Juneteenth, or June 19th, was officially recognized as a federal holiday. The date marks a historic event that has been celebrated by African Americans since 1865.
On June 19th, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger, headquartered in Galveston, Texas, issued General Order №3. “In accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free…This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.
Two months earlier, on April 9th, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Lieutenant. General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War. Galveston was a port city that received news from the east coast and spread information northward. So many enslaved people in Texas already knew the Civil War had ended, but they were afraid of celebrating prematurely.
In her book On Juneteenth, Annette Gordon-Reed writes “the idea that the society that oppressed them might be transformed into one based on equality influenced Black Texans in much the same way that the Declaration of Independence influenced Blacks in the early American Republic.”
Lawrence resident Janine Colter remembers observing Juneteenth as a child. “The main dish would be smoked and grilled meats, fresh fruit, pies, cakes. Juneteenth for me meant food, gathering, laughing, dancing, and having a good time. Soul stirring happiness.”
In 2003, Colter decided to share these traditions with the community. She established the Lawrence, Kansas Juneteenth Celebration organization and moved the observance to Burcham Park.
Colter has always seen the Juneteenth program in Lawrence as an experience for everyone. “There’s so much history here with Kansas being a free state,” she observes. “Why not share our African American history as well? The more you meet people and learn some of their culture the more understanding people will have of each other.”
The Juneteenth observance highlights both the contributions and struggles of African Americans in Lawrence. “There’s no reason to fear it. It is our truth. This is what happened. It’s not a negative thing as far as sharing it.”
The four day event begins on Thursday, July 16 at noon. Lawrence Juneteenth and the League of Women Voters will host a Zoom event on the history of voting rights, “Juneteenth, Independence and the Nation: Then and Now.”
On Friday evening, The Community Gospel Choir will perform under the direction of Randy Spears, a past director of the MLK choir. The performance begins at 7 pm at the Victory Bible Church, 1942 Massachusetts Street.
On Saturday, the Juneteenth events begin with an 11 a.m. parade on Massachusetts Street. “Being able to walk down historic Massachusetts means everything for this event,” says Colter.
The gathering begins at noon in South Park. A sound stage for music and speakers, oral histories, a kid’s corner with Black History games, plenty of BBQ, fish, local artisans, and all kids eat for free. “We have the past, present and future to engage our younger kids and older people and those in between,” says Colter
The weekend festivities conclude with a walking tour of the Maple Grove Cemetery in North Lawrence beginning at 3pm. Tombstones date back from the late 1800’s.
Like many Americans, Lois Orth-Lopes didn’t learn about Juneteenth until a few years ago. She didn’t hesitate to take action, becoming one of the five white members of the Lawrence, Kansas Juneteenth Celebration. She jumped in “to gain a better understanding of the event and how it impacts us today,” she says. “To become more comfortable in a more diverse community, you can’t just sit on the sidelines.”
This is Colter’s 19th year leading the Juneteenth organization. There’s little chance she’ll retire to the sidelines anytime soon. She’s guided by the vision of that first Juneteenth celebration in Galveston, Texas.
“When Texas, the last state [to free the slaves] received this information, I can imagine the release, I can see the celebration. I feel that spirit saying, ‘no one owns me anymore.’ I absolutely love it.”I would make this clearer
