[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3822-H3827]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING THE END OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 56), celebrating the end of slavery in the
United States.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 56
Whereas news of the end of slavery came late to frontier
areas of the country, especially in the American Southwest;
Whereas the African-Americans who had been slaves in the
Southwest thereafter celebrated Juneteenth as the anniversary
of their emancipation;
Whereas their descendants handed down that tradition from
generation to generation as an inspiration and encouragement
for future generations;
Whereas Juneteenth celebrations have thus been held for 130
years to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery
and especially those who moved from slavery to freedom; and
Whereas their example of faith and strength of character
remains a lesson for all Americans today, regardless of
background or region or race: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That--
(1) the celebration of the end of slavery is an important
and enriching part of our country's history and heritage;
(2) the celebration of the end of slavery provides an
opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our common
past and to better understand the experiences that have
shaped our Nation; and
(3) a copy of this joint resolution be transmitted to the
National Association of Juneteenth Lineage as an expression
of appreciation for its role in promoting the observance of
the end of slavery.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey [Mr. Pappas] and the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Cummings] each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas].
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, ``Juneteenth'' has long been recognized as the date to
celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. I congratulate my
friend and the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], for
introducing this resolution to underscore the importance of that
development for our Nation.
Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the day on which the
last slaves in America were freed. Although slavery was officially
abolished in 1863, it took over two years for news of freedom to spread
to all slaves. On June 19, 1865, U.S. General Gordon Granger rode into
Galveston, Texas and announced that the State's 200,000 slaves were
free. To make the date unforgettable, the former slaves coined the
nickname ``Juneteenth,'' mixing the word ``June'' and ``nineteenth.''
This holiday originated in the Southwest, but today it is celebrated
throughout the Nation. The celebration of Juneteenth provides an
opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our common past and
to better understand the experiences that have shaped our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for his leadership in guiding this bill to the
House floor. I also thank the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton],
chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, and the
gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman], the ranking member, for their
support of this measure.
For more than 100 years, African-Americans all over this country have
been celebrating a very special day, Juneteenth. Juneteenth, on June
19, commemorates a joyous day in 1865 when many of the slaves in the
State of Texas first learned that they had been freed. Juneteenth is
sometimes known as the African-American 4th of July.
President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation went into
effect on January 1, 1863. However, as most Americans know, the
Emancipation Proclamation freed only those slaves in the States
fighting against the Union in the Civil War. However, it was not until
General Gordon Granger of the Union army arrived in Texas in 1865 that
many of the slaves were informed that they had already been emancipated
for over two years.
As the news spread, African-Americans celebrated. Festive foods were
prepared. Music was played. People danced and sang. Mr. Speaker, most
importantly, they prayed.
Then began the long journey down the road towards equality and
justice, a journey we still find ourselves traveling on more than a
century later. That is why African-Americans and all people of goodwill
and humanity pause to celebrate this special day in history.
{time} 1600
My good friend, the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Jesse L. Jackson,
has defined these kinds of events as faith events. More than a
celebration, Mr. Speaker, the commemoration of Juneteenth is a faith
event. It is a time to thank our Creator for the renewal of our
people's strength, their tenacity, their determination, and the amazing
grace which has sustained their souls and their faith through this
great hardship.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts].
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his
kind words, and for the two gentlemen that have just articulated the
thoughts on Juneteenth, I thank them both for their kind words and for
their support of this legislation.
I also want to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil
Service of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, the
gentleman from Florida, Mr. John Mica, whose leadership was
instrumental in bringing this bill to the floor today during Juneteenth
week. I sincerely appreciate his hard work in making that happen.
Mr. Speaker, as has been described here on the floor today,
Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the day on which the last
slaves in America were freed. In September of 1862, in my opinion our
greatest President, Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emanicipator, issued the
Emancipation Proclamation which officially freed the slaves as of
January 1, 1863, a full 87 years after the War of Independence began,
with the support of thousands of black American patriots.
But the official act and the actual liberation were separated by
months of continuing war, and long distances and news of freedom was
slow to travel during those remaining years of the Civil War. It was
not until June 19, 1865 that word finally reached the people in one of
the farthest corners of the South, Galveston, TX, when Gen. Gordon
Granger marched into the city and announced that the State's 200,000
slaves were free. That day has since been coined Juneteenth
Independence Day and has been celebrated as such by tens of thousands
of Americans and families for over 130 years.
Today this congressional resolution, House Joint Resolution 56, seeks
to honor the memory of all those who endured slavery. It seeks to
remind us of their faith, their strength of character, and their long
struggle for freedom and for equal rights. It seeks to remind us that
America needed a second Independence Day to complete the work that was
begun by our Founding Fathers on the Fourth of July, 1776.
I hope all Americans will take a moment to recognize this Juneteenth
Independence Day by remembering those who suffered, those who
struggled, and those who finally triumphed over ignorance and hate to
make a better world for their children and for their grandchildren.
This is an opportunity to remember that we, too, are in the process
every day of our lives of leaving a legacy to our own children and
grandchildren.
This Juneteenth perhaps is a time to consider whether our legacy will
be as noble as those before us. Three months before General Granger
rode into Galveston and 1 month before he was assassinated, President
Lincoln gave a second inaugural address where he challenged his
countrymen to strive on to finish the work we are in, ``with malice
towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God
gives us to see the right . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish
a just and lasting peace.
A just and lasting peace. That challenge reaches out across the
generations. It is the reason we remember and
[[Page H3823]]
honor the great men and women who fought for the legacy of freedom that
we honor on Juneteenth.
Mr. Speaker, again I would like to thank the gentleman from New
Jersey [Mr. Pappas].
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts]
for his statements. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate and pay homage to
the endurance of African-American slaves and their determination to be
free. It commemorates the tenacity and courage they exhibited to obtain
that freedom. It is a tribute to those black Americans who fought so
long and worked so hard for the dream of equality.
Although Juneteenth is founded upon a painful past, it is now a day
of celebration, fellowship, unity, and new beginnings: a faith event.
When African-Americans were brought from Africa to this country as
slaves, it was not only their bodies that were shackled. Their
potential was also imprisoned. But no amount of enslavement, torture,
humiliation, or murder was able to bound the souls, ambitions, or
dreams of this dynamic and resilient people.
No other class of citizens, with the exception of possibly the
American Indian, has had their language, their culture, and their
religion literally stripped from their identity, and still they
survived. Indeed, we thrive. African-Americans are now doctors,
lawyers, educators, Supreme Court justices, and 101 people once denied
the right to even sit in the balconies of this Chamber have served as
Members of the U.S. Congress. We have come far, Mr. Chairman, but we
still have a long way to go.
Juneteenth symbolizes the formal beginning of our march toward self-
determination and empowerment. At times progress along this march has
been slow, almost imperceptible. Though technically free by law, there
are new struggles which today seek to enslave and impede our people
from fully realizing the bounty of the American dream. Crime, drug
abuse, poverty, poor health, and substandard education continue to
shackle the full development of African-American potential.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Nebraska [Mr. Christensen].
Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Joint Resolution 56, the resolution celebrating the end of slavery in
the United States. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, ``In giving freedom
to the slave, we assure freedom to the free. Honorable alike in what we
give and what we preserve, we shall nobly save or meanly lose the last
best hope of earth.''
With these words in December 1862, President Abraham Lincoln clearly
defined his vision for a unified free America. Although it took the
Civil War and three constitutional amendments to secure equal status
for all U.S. citizens, Lincoln's moral leadership saved the last best
hope of Earth from division and destruction.
The end of slavery is one of the most significant events in U.S.
history. That is why earlier this week I cosponsored, with Mr. Hall, an
apology, to ask forgiveness, because I believe before this Nation can
truly be healed, forgiveness must be sought and reconciliation must
occur. I applaud the authors of this amendment and ask for the passage
of House Joint Resolution 56.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee], a member of the Committee on the
Judiciary and the Committee on Science and cosponsor of this
legislation.
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding time to me, and I would express appreciation to the gentleman
from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for his leadership and his desire to bring
this to the floor of the House.
Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth or June 19, 1865 is considered the date when
the last slaves in America were freed. Although rumors of freedom were
widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until Gen.
Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, TX and issued order No. 3 on June
19 which freed the estimated 200,000 slaves in the State of Texas. This
is particularly special to Texans today, and this week many
celebrations are going on in Texas. Texans will commemorate Juneteenth
on June 19, as a State holiday created by the work of State
Representative Al Edwards. Much study has been given to this historic
event by Rev. C. Anderson Davis, who leads many activities regarding
Juneteenth in Texas.
Many may stop and ask the question, whether the word is in fact
celebration or whether it is commemoration. I believe that any day
someone rises and achieves freedom is a day to celebrate. Even though
General Granger's announcement came almost 2\1/2\ years after President
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
President Lincoln issued the proclamation on September 22, 1862 as a
bid to reunite this Nation, after a block of Southern States left the
Union. It included a provision to free all slaves in those States if
they did not return to the Union. These States did not return to the
Union, however this proclamation did not apply to those slave-holding
States that did not rebel against the Union. This fact left about
800,000 slaves unaffected by the provisions of the proclamation.
The Civil War and the 13th amendment to the Constitution formally
outlawed slavery in the United States. When Texas heard the news, those
who were slaves did dance, they did sing, and they prayed. As I said,
for many years individuals thought we should not say that, we should
not acknowledge that there was a celebration, but I can surely say that
freedom should be praised and it should be applauded.
This day as we celebrate the bringing of this particular legislation,
House Joint Resolution 56, let me applaud President Bill Clinton for
his initiative, that there should be a racial healing. Let me also say
that I support the legislation that will seek an apology for slavery in
this country.
If we are serious, a debate should be real. If we are serious, an
apology should be given and accepted. If we are serious, we should go
forth, heal the racial divide and build our communities economically,
socially, and with justice for all of America by presenting to those of
ethnic and minority background a true opportunity, viewing them as
equal citizens under the law in the United States of America. I support
legislation to acknowledge the end of slavery in America.
Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor I rise in support of House Joint
Resolution 56, which is celebrating the end of slavery in the United
States.
I would like to thank my colleague from the State of Oklahoma, for
his leadership in bringing this legislation to the House of
Representatives for consideration.
Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when
the last slaves in America were freed. Although rumors of freedom were
widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until
General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, TX and issued general order
No. 3, on June 19, which freed the States estimated 200,000 slaves.
General Granger's announcement came almost 2\1/2\ years after President
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. on
September 22, 1862, as a bid to reunite the Nation after the block of
Southern States had seceded from the Union it included a provision to
free all slaves in those States if they did not return to the Union.
These States did not return to the Union, and this proclamation did not
apply to those slave-holding States that did not rebel against the
Union. These facts left about 800,000 slaves unaffected by the
provisions of the proclamation.
The Civil war and the 13th amendment to the Constitution formally
outlawed slavery in the United States.
When slaves in Texas heard the news, they sang, danced, and prayed.
There was much rejoicing and jubilation that their life long prayers
had finally been answered. Many of the slaves left their masters
immediately, upon begin freed, in search of family members, economic
opportunities or simply because they could. They left with nothing but
the clothes on their backs and hope in their hearts.
Freedom; the right to name one's self, the right to have a marriage
legally recognized, the right to assemble, the right to openly worship
as one saw fit, and the right to learn how to read and write without
fear.
There were still many difficult journeys for former slaves to
overcome. The abject poverty
[[Page H3824]]
and the racism that maintained it, prohibited any hope for assimilation
into American society. In Texas, there were condemnations of those who
would sell land to blacks. The Texas Homestead Act, passed during
Reconstruction, the period following the Civil War, granted up to 160
acres of free land to white persons only. The Texas legislature in 1866
along with many legislatures across the Nation began to pass a new set
of black codes which were designed to limit or reverse the gains ex-
slaves had been granted.
Ex-slaves entered freedom penniless and homeless, with only the
clothes on their backs. In the words of Frederick Douglas, ``free
without roofs to cover them, or bread to eat, or land to cultivate, and
as a consequence died in such numbers as to awaken the hope of their
enemies that they would soon disappear.''
Sharecropping emerged from this misery in Texas and all over the Deep
South which kept blacks from starving, but had little to distinguish it
from the slave life of blacks. By 1877, the end of Reconstruction, the
North had abandoned black America to the will of Southern whites, who
through violence, racial discrimination, and Jim Crow laws succeeded in
disenfranchising them, resulting in more than a 100 years of oppression
until the rise of the civil rights movement.
Juneteenth during the decades following the end of slavery became for
African-Americans a special day to celebrate the fruits of freedom
which were and should have been fully theirs at the end of slavery.
Over the few short decades from the civil rights movement Juneteenth
has grown in prominence and recognition. It is a day that all Americans
can and do celebrate as a reminder of the triumph of the human spirit
over the cruelty of slavery. It honors those African-Americans who
survived the inhumane institution of bondage, as well as a
demonstration of pride in the marvelous legacy of resistance and
perseverance they left us.
Juneteenth should also serve as a day to recognize those who
supported the abolitionist movement and the underground railroad which
helped to pave our way to a nation not in conflict with its founding
principles.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join in support of House Joint
Resolution 56.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished
gentlewoman from Kentucky [Mrs. Northup].
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues and
friends, and in particular the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts], in
commemorating this historic event. The Juneteenth celebration
symbolizes the end of a practice which divided this country for
hundreds of years. To this day, that practice continues to cause fear,
distress, and anger, a practice that denied an entire race of people
its rights, guaranteed to all Americans by our Constitution, a practice
that stripped them of opportunity and oftentimes hope.
But on this day, when we remember the close of a terrible chapter in
our Nation's history, I believe we must look ahead rather than behind.
We must look ahead to a Nation devoid of racial tension and then work
toward that goal. Americans of all races must take it upon themselves
to reach across that gulf of racial divisions to build friendships,
relationships, and understanding so our children will know a world
without prejudice.
In a time and a country where blacks and whites do not even eat
together, pray together, or play together, the Juneteenth celebration
should serve as a reminder that there is still work to be done, and
should encourage us to pursue the promise of an America which is indeed
free for all.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, 6 years ago my colleague, the chairwoman of the
Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from California, [Ms.
Waters] came to Baltimore to deliver a most dynamic commencement
address at Morgan State University, which is located in my district.
During that address she said that African-Americans are the only
class of citizens of this great Nation which has had to have landmark
legislation and groundbreaking court decisions handed down throughout
our Nation's history to force America to accept us as full citizens,
with all the rights and privileges of that distinction.
Mr. Speaker, on that great day, the gentlewoman from California [Ms.
Waters] was right on point. In 1791, the fifth amendment was ratified,
guaranteeing all persons due process under the law. In 1865, this
country adopted the 13th amendment, officially doing away with slavery.
In the course of one century the Congress of the United States has
passed four civil rights acts giving all U.S. citizens the same rights
enjoyed by whites, and finally, in 1974, the Congress enacted the
Housing and Community Development Act.
Almost two centuries have passed since this country began to make
efforts to reconcile this inhuman past with this bright and hopeful
future. But Mr. Speaker, I must reiterate that a full century after the
Emancipation Proclamation, three decades since the Voting Rights Act,
two generations since the landmark court decision of Brown versus the
Board of Education, Americans, both black and white, still find
themselves standing dumbfounded at the crossroads in race relations.
Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. I want to take this
opportunity to commend President Clinton for his encouraging our Nation
to live up to its potential as we continue taking steps in America's
long journey toward racial healing.
In the President's address at the University of California, San
Diego, last weekend, he had the courage to address the sensitive and
critical issue of race relations. But we cannot allow a dialog on race
to commence without fully addressing serious economic, social, and
environmental systems that continue to fan the flames of
misunderstanding.
Until we address the root causes of joblessness and unemployment,
health, poverty, and hunger, affordable housing and educational
disparity, a discussion of race healing is premature.
{time} 1615
The President has appointed a blue ribbon panel to advise him on the
issue of race. But, Mr. Speaker, I agree with retired Maryland juvenile
court judge Vincent Femia, who said:
To appoint this group of people to study race is like
appointing a group of people to decide if they should repaint
the window frames of a house while the house is on fire. Yes,
maybe the window frames do need repainting, but, if you sit
around talking, pretty soon it is not going to make any
difference.
If we are truly to have a dialog on race in America, it must begin
with an honest, frank, and truthful discussion on how we treat and
disrespect our Nation's poor and working families. If we do not do
that, Mr. Speaker, any conversation we hope to have on racial healing
will fall on deaf ears.
We must face and overcome these critical problems as one nation;
indivisible, with an eye toward justice and liberty for all.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Washington [Ms. Dunn], Secretary of the Republican Conference.
Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues, the
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] and the gentleman from New Jersey
[Mr. Pappas], today to celebrate the end of slavery and its import in
our country's history and in its heritage.
Although slavery was abolished officially in 1863, the last slave was
not freed until 2 years later; and we know that the struggle for equity
did not end even then. In fact it will not truly be over until all men
and women are equal, until people truly are judged by the content of
their character rather than the color of their skins and until the time
that those little boxes on applications for jobs no longer exist. I am
proud to say I do believe we are on our way.
I am pleased to join this celebration today to honor the memory of
those who endured slavery and especially those who moved from slavery
to freedom. The former slaves, just like George Washington and Abe
Lincoln, Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King, are true American
heroes. I commend the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] and the
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] for introducing this resolution.
I look forward to working very closely together with their leadership
on this issue.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, there is a spiritual I learned as a little boy called
``Faith of Our Fathers.'' It talks about an enduring faith in the
ideals and principles of our forefathers. It goes like this; it says:
Faith of our fathers, living still, in spite of dungeon,
fire and sword. Oh, how our hearts
[[Page H3825]]
beat high with joy whene'er we hear that glorious word. Faith
of our fathers. Holy faith. We will be true to thee till
death.
It goes on to say:
Faith of our fathers, chained in prisons dark, were still
in heart and conscience free. How sweet would be their
children's fate. If they, like them, could die for thee.
Faith of our fathers. Holy faith. We will be true to thee
till death.
Finally it says:
Faith of our fathers. We will love both friend and foe in
all our strife; and preach thee, too, as love knows how, by
kindly words and virtuous life. Faith of our fathers. Holy
faith. We will be true to thee till death.
The solution to these problems lies in creating and maintaining a
vibrant economic base that will help our cities and families.
Economic development is crucial to survival of the African-American
community. One way of doing this is by mobilizing cooperative efforts
between government, business and the community.
Federal empowerment zones pair the Federal Government with
economically distressed areas to provide incentives for entrepreneurs,
established firms, and employees that invest and work in areas that
they would otherwise find unattractive.
Empowerment zones challenge communities to develop and submit
strategic visions for creating jobs and opportunities.
But we have to focus inwards as well. Those of us who have been
blessed must acknowledge the obligation to return to our communities
and give something back. We must invest in our human capital by acting
as sources of inspiration and role models for our youth. African-
American youth need to be encouraged to believe in themselves and their
abilities.
By exposing our youth to new options, by opening their eyes to new
alternatives, by showing our youth that we have faith in them, we can
begin to instill in them the sense of pride and self-confidence
necessary to prevent the high school dropout rates, illiteracy, teen
pregnancy, and drug use that plagues our communities.
But, Mr. Speaker, I fear that we have once again begun a sad march
backwards in regard to educating the next generation already with the
passage of proposition 209 in California. That great State has seen an
alarming 80 percent reduction in the application of minorities to be
part of the class of 2001. Will we once again slam the door in the
faces of young people seeking to be the best that they can be? I
certainly hope not.
Mr. Speaker, we can and we must do better. June tenth celebrates and
commemorates the joy and hope that the newly freed slaves felt in Texas
on that day long ago in 1865. But it is also incumbent upon us to
recommit ourselves this day to the continuing struggle for economic,
political, educational, and social accomplishment if we are to realize
the goal of this Nation's Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, Dr. King came to Washington over 34 years ago
and spoke of a dream. But also on that historic day, he spoke of a
promissory note of justice, equality, and freedom which America had
defaulted upon. He said, it had been returned to the American Negro
marked, and I quote, ``insufficient funds.''
I believe that the promissory note is long overdue. America must now
begin to live up to its full potential and finally offer all of her
citizens the right to life, liberty, and the full pursuit of happiness.
As we pause to remember Juneteenth, Mr. Speaker, I am reminded of a
song recorded by the artist Michael Bolton. It is a song that I
dedicate today to our ancestors, who came before us, to all of you
wherever you may be, wherever your spirits are, we say to you that we
will pick up the mantle and we will run with it. The song goes like
this, and it is a very simple song but a very significant one. It says:
I have often dreamed of a far off place where a heroes welcome would
be waiting for me. Where the crowds will cheer when they see my face
and a voice keeps saying this is where I am meant to be. I will be
there someday. I can go the distance. I will find my way if I can be
strong. I know every mile will be worth my while when I go the distance
I will be right where I belong. I will go down the road to embrace my
fate though that road may wander it will lead me to you. And a thousand
years would be worth the wait it might take a lifetime but somehow I
will see it through.
And I will not look back I can go the distance and I will stay on
track, no I will not accept defeat. It is an uphill slope but I won't
lose hope until I go the distance and my journey ends for me.
To look beyond the glory is the hardest part, for a heroes strength
is measured by his heart.
Like a shooting star, I will go the distance. I will search the
world. I will face it all.
I do not care how far, I can go the distance until I find my heroes
welcome waiting in your arms.
To our ancestors we say:
I will search the world. I will face its harms until I find my heroes
welcome waiting in your arms.
That is what this faith event is truly all about, surviving hardships
and going the distance. I urge the House to suspend the rules and pass
House Joint Resolution 56.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House today resonates with all
Members and with all citizens. Its importance is not limited to the
descendants of slaves. Slavery was a blight on our Nation, a betrayal
of the fundamental principles on which this Nation was founded, that
all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with unalienable
rights.
The end of slavery was an indispensable step in implementing that
principle for all citizens.
I thank the distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma for sponsoring this
resolution and shepherding it through the House. His own life is an
inspiration for all Americans and forceful proof of what men and women
can achieve in a free society.
From humble origins he became a star quarterback at the University of
Oklahoma. Now he is a distinguished Member of this House and a star
among all our Members. His life and his career and the lives and
achievements of countless Americans throughout this country remind us
how much Juneteenth means to all Americans.
Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint
Resolution 54, on which I am proud to be listed as an original
cosponsor. This constitutional amendment would empower Congress to
prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag. My support for
this amendment is based on my strong belief in the values of liberty,
equality, and personal responsibility which Americans have fought to
defend. The flag is a unifying symbol which uniquely embodies the
values upon which our Nation was founded, grew, and will continue to
prosper.
As I stand here on the floor of the House of Representatives, I am
reminded of the importance of the flag as something which brings us
together when many other forces seem to pull us apart. This Chamber has
seen debates on the most divisive issue facing our Nation. Much ado has
been made of growing partisanship within this body. Yet, no matter what
the issue of the day, we in the House of Representatives begin each day
with the pledge of allegiance. At that point, we discard all other
labels and collectively honor the flag which brings us together as one
nation.
Not that the flag represents identical things to all of us. To the
veteran it may represent the challenges and triumphs of the
battlefield. To an immigrant it may represent unimagined opportunity.
To a skeptic it ensures the right to disagree while to many others it
represents the power of majority rule.
Americans live and think and work and worship in many different
ways--not always compatibly and not always politely, but always under
the same flag.
The flag's desecration is an affront to the freedoms, justice, and
democracy for which it stands. On a more personal level, the flag's
desecration is also an affront to the memory of all Americans who were
willing to sacrifice their very lives for free speech, free worship,
free association. Some Americans made those sacrifices on foreign and
domestic battlefields, some on the Underground Railroad to freedom,
some on the western plains and mountains as they struggled to tame a
wild land, some in the poverty of inner city challenges. Each and every
one of these brave patriots fought for the ideals represented by our
flag, and each and every one deserves our respect and gratitude.
Protection of our flag is a noble goal which I strongly support. As
our Nation prepares to
[[Page H3826]]
celebrate Flag Day, it is important that each of us find ways in which
we can not only protect but also honor this most central of national
symbols. Our flag is honored when we love our land, our families, and
our rights. Our flag is honored when people speak out about injustice.
Our flag is honored when someone risks their own comfort and position
to help another.
I challenge every man, woman, and child who loves this Nation to find
ways to honor the values which our flag embodies and I urge my
colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 54.
Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 130th year
of the celebration of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is the traditional celebration of the anniversary of
emancipation. And, just as those former slaves vowed on June 19, 1865,
to never forget the day slavery was officially abolished, we too must
never forget slavery and the brave men and women who endured its
horrible monstrosities. On June 14 and 15, 75,000 western New Yorkers
upheld the vow to never forget the abolishment of slavery and those who
endured it.
The celebration of Juneteenth has also developed into a forum for the
proud display of African-American culture and history. This grand
history lesson not only helps us look back, but it helps us all look
forward. We should now be looking forward to and working towards an era
of unprecedented peace and reconciliation. House Joint Resolution 56,
introduced by Mr. Watts, is an excellent opportunity for this Congress
and this Nation to take a step in that direction.
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to join with the tens of thousands of
western New Yorkers, and millions of Americans across the Nation in
recognition of the Juneteenth and this historic celebration of the end
of slavery in America.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution
56, a resolution of the Congress acknowledging the celebration of
Juneteenth as an important and enriching part of our Nation's heritage.
Juneteenth commemorates the day, June 19, 1865, when word of the end of
slavery in the United States reached the American Southwest. Although
President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1,
1863, it took some 2\1/2\ years for the news to reach Texas and other
southwestern slave-holding States. Former slaves in the region coined
the term ``Juneteenth'' to recall the date they received the news of
their freedom, and they celebrated the anniversary of emancipation at
this time each year. As descendants of these former slaves have spread
throughout the Nation, the 130-year-old celebration has spread as well.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated by many African-Americans in most of
the now 50 States.
Mr. Speaker, Juneteenth marks the close of a very long and dark
chapter of our Nation's history--and the beginning of America's attempt
to make its promise of freedom, liberty, and equality ring true for all
Americans. The succeeding 130 years have brought momentous changes in
our society. Through struggle and sacrifice, in the face of violent
hostility and grave indignities, African-Americans have injected
substance into the mantra equal justice under law, and we are today a
freer, stronger Nation for it. Juneteenth is thus a time for
celebrating the freedoms now guaranteed to all Americans through the
Constitution and laws of our great land, and for reflecting on the
courage of those who endured slavery and who fought to make America
fulfill the promise of its founding principles. It is also, Mr.
Speaker, a time to renew the commitment to correct inequalities and
injustices which persist. Thus, although Juneteenth finds its origins
in the southwest, it is clearly a celebration which embodies lessons of
immense value and significance for all Americans across this great
Nation.
I commend my colleague Congressman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma for
introducing this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support
House Joint Resolution 56.
Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of House
Joint Resolution 56, in support of this legislation granting special
recognition to the date of June 19, or Juneteenth, the date that the
last slaves were considered freed in the United States, in 1865. I
commend my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Watts] for
writing and introducing this legislation.
Dr. Martin Luther King, in his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech, said
he looked forward to a day when people would be judged not by the color
of their skin, but by the content of their character. We have come a
long way toward this goal as a nation since the first Juneteenth almost
132 years ago. I believe we have come a long way since Dr. King gave
his speech. But it would not be correct--and it would not even be
American--to suggest that we do not yet have a ways to go before Dr.
King's dream is fulfilled.
To succeed as a nation, we should return to basic principles. One of
these is to recognize and celebrate the fact that we are all Americans.
The motto of this Nation is ``E Pluribus Unum''--out of many, one. Out
of many nations, races, and faiths, we have all come together in this
land called America. We are united by our Constitution, our laws, our
flag, and our desire to achieve the American dream and a better future
for our children.
The celebration of Juneteenth continues the American march of
embracing, celebrating, and advancing the cause of freedom in our own
land, and around the globe. Of that, we can be proud, but we can never
be content.
I would like to insert into the Record an essay published by the
National Christian Juneteenth Leadership Council, describing the
history of Juneteenth.
The BLACK CHURCH AND JUNETEENTH
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom
what is juneteenth?
Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when
the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of
freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation
did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into
Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19,
almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln
signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
but didn't the emancipation proclamation free the enslaved?
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on
September 22, 1862, notifying the states in rebellion against
the Union that if they did not cease their rebellion and
return to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare
their slaves forever free. Needless to say, the proclamation
was ignored by those states that seceded from the Union.
Furthermore, the proclamation did not apply to those slave-
holding states that did not rebel against the Union. As a
result about 800,000 slaves were unaffected by the provisions
of the proclamation. It would take a civil war to enforce the
Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution to formally outlaw slavery in the United States.
when is juneteenth celebrated?
Annually, on June 19, in more than 200 cities in the United
States. Texas (and Oklahoma) is the only state that has made
Juneteenth a legal holiday. Some cities sponsor week-long
celebrations, culminating on June 19, while others hold
shorter celebrations.
why is juneteenth celebrated?
It symbolizes the end of slavery. Juneteenth has come to
symbolize for many African-Americans what the fourth of July
symbolizes for all Americans--freedom. It serves as a
historical milestone reminding Americans of the triumph of
the human spirit over the cruelty of slavery. It honors those
African-Americans ancestors who survived the inhumane
institution of bondage, as well as demonstrating pride in the
marvelous legacy of resistance and perserverance they left
us.
why not just celebrate the fourth of july like other americans?
Blacks do celebrate the Fourth of July in honor of American
Independence Day, but history reminds us that blacks were
still enslaved when the United States obtained its
independence.
why were slaves in texas the last to know that they were free?
During the Civil War, Texas did not experience any
significant invasion by Union forces. Although the Union army
made several attempts to invade Texas, they were thwarted by
Confederate troops. As a result, slavery in Texas continued
to thrive. In fact, because slavery in Texas experienced such
a minor interruption in its operation, many slave owners from
other slave-holding states brought their slaves to Texas to
wait out the war. News of the emancipation was suppressed due
to the overwhelming influence of the slave owners.
Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of House Joint
Resolution 56 and I urge my colleagues to support it. This nonbinding
resolution would celebrate the end of slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 is the celebrated document
which symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States. However, it
took over 2 years for news of freedom to reach Texas. It was not until
June 19, 1865 when U.S. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston and
announced that the State's 200,000 slaves were free, that slavery was
truly abolished throughout all of the United States. In an attempt
never to forget this truly historical day, African-Americans who were
slaves and their descendants refer to this day as Juneteenth, and they
have been celebrating this date annually for over 130 years.
This measure would bring public attention to this very meaningful
passage in American history. An official recognition of Juneteenth
provides an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about the
legacy of this country. Equally important, an official recognition of
Juneteenth reflects the desire of the American people to acknowledge
all aspects of our past, even those painful aspects, and build a
unified thus stronger bridge together into our future.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues here today to offer my
support for
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House Joint Resolution 56 which calls for the celebration of the end of
slavery. The need to celebrate the end of this most dubious time in
America's short history, pervades the thoughts of many, though more so
during this month of June.
During the month of June and, specifically, June 13-19, thousands of
people, especially blacks, come together to celebrate the end of
slavery. The celebration, called Juneteenth, commemorates the date in
1865 when slaves in Texas discovered, a full 2\1/2\ years after the
fact, that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation
Proclamation. Slaveowners in eastern Texas successfully hid the news of
their emancipation for 2\1/2\ years. They were not notified of their
freedom until Union army officers told them on June 19, 1865, hence the
name Juneteenth.
Juneteenth has been recognized as a holiday in Texas for quite some
time, but has extended beyond Texas borders in recent years. Juneteenth
is celebrated throughout many communities nationwide, incorporating
parades, musical performances, and other festivities.
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation did much to dismantle the
structure of slavery, but did not dismantle the institution. The story
of those eastern Texas slaves is a visceral reminder of the fact that
even after the Emancipation Proclamation, many slaves were indeed, not
free. Throughout the South, slaves were not notified of their freedom
by landowners for years. The problem was not confined to the South.
In my home State of New Jersey, as of the same year, 1865, the
Democratic controlled State legislature still refused to ratify the
13th amendment, which abolished slavery. Clearly they were not free
either. In 1866, the republican State legislature ratified the 13th
amendment along with the 14th amendment, which guaranteed the
citizenship rights of everyone born in the United States. But this
same legislature refused to grant the franchise to blacks. In 1868, the
again Democrat controlled State legislature rescinded the ratification
of the 14th amendment and 2 years later in 1870, refused to ratify the
15th amendment which extended the franchise to all races.
The saving grace of the New Jersey blacks was that enough States
ratified the amendment to make it national law. It is evident that the
plight of the slave and black families did not end with Lincoln's
proclamation, nor was it confined to Southern boundaries.
Even after such amendments, it took still longer for blacks to
acculture themselves to rights afforded to the free American citizen.
It is the cultural metamorphosis of the African and the slave into the
unique experience of the African-American that truly marks
emancipation. The Juneteenth celebration is much larger than a
celebration commemorating the long-overdue emancipation of the eastern
Texas slaves, it is a celebration of the long overdue emancipation of
all slaves. It is a celebration of the dismantling of the slavery
institution; a dismantling of the bureaucratic engine that sought to
halt black's freedom, long after their emancipation was declared, not
unlike the Texas slave master.
Though Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery, it is by no means
just an African-American holiday. Juneteenth is a celebration which
brings together everyone. It is important for everyone to remember and
acknowledge this chapter in American history. We all have to take
responsibility.
This past week President Clinton made a great stride in opening a
national dialog on race relations. His plan to establish a Presidential
advisory board to allow Americans to speak out about racial issues
shows initiative and a willingness to confront the ongoing racial
tensions in our multicultural society. We can only hope that President
Clinton's good intentions will be buttressed by action. In closing I
ask that you join me and my colleagues in supporting House Joint
Resolution 56. I thank you for your time and consideration.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Gibbons]. The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pappas] that the House
suspend the rules and pass to the joint resolution, House Joint
Resolution 56.
The question was taken.
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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