[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 91 (Thursday, June 19, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5649-H5650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PRAISING AND CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Franks of Arizona). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, before I begin my tribute, as 
a Texan, I would like to join with my good friend from San Antonio and 
around the State of Texas to be able to congratulate those fantastic 
San Antonio Spurs. As the Members well know, coming from Houston there 
is absolutely one basketball team that we all believe is number one, 
the Houston Rockets. But as Texans, we always rally around our friends 
and neighbors, and so I am delighted to congratulate the San Antonio 
Spurs. I am glad I did not make any wrong bets and to particularly 
appreciate David Robinson for his years of the kind of playing with 
integrity and character that we can all be proud of, the David Robinson 
School in San Antonio that he committed to with his own resources, the 
spirit that he generated for that team, the outstanding work of most 
valuable player, Tim Duncan, and as well the fact that Steve Kerr came 
from the wonderful State of Illinois, but we have got him now, came off 
the bench and propelled the San Antonio Spurs to where they are today. 
My hat is off and I look forward to working with him and the team as we 
work to make Texas and the Nation a better place.
  Today, I believe, Mr. Speaker, is a very good day and I have the 
honor of commemorating this day. It is Juneteenth, and we look forward 
to Juneteenth becoming a national holiday of commemoration to the 
extent that all of America is aware of the importance of this 
celebration. It is, in fact, June 19, today, that we are able to stand 
to pay tribute but also to solemnly acknowledge the importance of this 
day. I am very proud to have been able to join many of my colleagues, 
including the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Clay), and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), and many 
others as we stood in the Mansfield Room in the United States Senate, 
the other body, paying tribute to this important day as well as being 
with Dr. Myers and others who believe that this is a historic time.
  What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a statement of freedom. Juneteenth 
is the unshackling of a body of people. Juneteenth is the freeing of 
slaves in the State of Texas. Juneteenth is the renewing of one's 
character, integrity, spirit, and ability to achieve one's greatest 
opportunities. It was Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, some 2 long hard 
years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that the people of Texas, 
the slaves of Texas, I might say, were able to realize their freedom. 
Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers led by 
the courageous Major General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas, 
with the news that the Civil War ended and that the slaves were now 
freed, the end slaves were freed. The Emancipation Proclamation became 
official, however, on January 1, 1863. Nevertheless, aside from that 
sad fact the people were already in a state of bondage, they did not 
get the word because there were not enough Union soldiers there to 
enforce.
  So, Mr. Speaker, we heard these words when Major Granger landed on 
that Galveston shore and freed or removed the bondage from those who 
were seeking to empower themselves, and he said, ``The people of Texas 
are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive 
of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute 
equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and 
slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that 
between employer and free laborer.'' What important words for today, 
Mr. Speaker.

[[Page H5650]]

  And I say that because the Tulia 12 has just been freed in the State 
of Texas, and I want to announce to this Congress that the Committee on 
the Judiciary, I hope, will be holding investigatory hearings on what 
happened to hold those individuals when there was no basis and a sense 
of a lack of fairness in the judicial system. We want to make sure that 
the Tulia 12 will be free for all America to know, and we expect to 
hold those hearings.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, we want to acknowledge that we are still 
fighting for that relationship of equality and so Juneteenth becomes 
more important because the Supreme Court will render its decision in 
the next week on the question of affirmative action, the right of 
equality and access to opportunity in this country, and I pray that 
Juneteenth will be commemorated in reality by a decision that upholds 
the University of Michigan's case.
  Mr. Speaker, I close by acknowledging those in my home district 
tonight as I speak on the floor of the House celebrating Juneteenth, 
Representative Al Edwards for his great work on making this a holiday; 
Reverend Greg Patrick of South West Community Church helping to put on 
this great event celebrating Juneteenth; and Reverend C. Anderson Davis 
and Mrs. Bertha Davis, our historic and wonderful senior citizens who 
helped bring the celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation to Texas 
for all these many years. I thank them and may the celebration live on 
by the words ``we shall overcome.''
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak of the joyous celebration of 
Juneteenth. For those of you who ask, ``What is Juneteenth,'' I will 
tell you. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union 
soldiers, led by the courageous Major General Gordon Granger, landed in 
Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the 
enslaved were now free. The Emancipation Proclamation became official 
on January 1, 1863. Nevertheless, aside from the sad fact the people 
were already in a state of bondage, they had to wait two and a half 
years after President Lincoln's proclamation, to hear the news.
  Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak about Juneteenth and 
I would like to share with you the letter that Major General Gordon 
Granger read to the emotion filled slaves. It reads as follows:
  ``The People of Texas are informed that in accordance with a 
Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are 
free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of 
property between former masters and slaves, and the connection 
heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free 
laborer.''
  Prior to June 19, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation had little 
impact on Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops available to 
enforce the new Executive order. Thanks to the meritorious Major 
Granger and the arrival of his troops, there were forces strong enough 
to overcome the resistance and to free the slaves.
  Many stories have been told about the actual reason for why it took 
so long for the news of the Emancipation to reach Galveston, but it is 
very difficult to say which one is true. The fact still remains that 
the news did not come to the enslaved Texans soon enough. The reactions 
to the profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation.
  Upon hearing the news, many of the newly freed slaves went north and 
others went to neighboring states, such as Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
Oklahoma. For those freed men and women, recounting the memories and 
festivities of that great day in June of 1865 served as motivation as 
well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new 
territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined ``Juneteenth'' and 
it grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth 
celebration was a time for reassuring one another, for praying and for 
gathering with family members. This still holds true today because 
African Americans continue to face many challenges that call for prayer 
and gathering together with one's family and community.
  When the celebration of Juneteenth originated, a range of activities 
were offered to entertain the masses, many of which continue in 
tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball are just a 
few of the typical Juneteenth activities that one may witness or 
participate in today. One of the more popular activities during 
Juneteenth celebrations is barbecuing, through which Juneteenth 
celebrants can share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors 
would have experienced during these festivities. For this reason, the 
barbecue pit is often established as the center of attention at 
Juneteenth celebrations, and you can smell the sweet smells of barbecue 
in the air in Houston and in many other areas.
  The history of Juneteenth celebrations has its ups and downs. The 
downs came in the early 1900s when classrooms did very little to teach 
about Juneteenth. However the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s did 
much to revive the celebrations due to widespread protests and marches 
for freedom. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state 
holiday in Texas, largely through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African 
American state legislator. The passage of the bill was especially 
significant because it marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation 
celebration granted official state recognition. Texans had been among 
the last to hear of the Emancipation but we were the first to 
distinguish it as a state holiday.
  Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and into the new millennium, Juneteenth 
has continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from communities 
and organizations throughout the county. The future of Juneteenth looks 
bright as the number of cities and states come on board and form local 
committees and organizations to coordinate celebratory activities.
  Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom while 
encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. I appreciate 
the opportunity to speak about this joyous celebration. I wish a very 
happy Juneteenth to all.
  Further, Mr. Speaker I want to salute Rev. C. Anderson Davis and his 
wife Bertha Davis for their dedicated determined efforts and honoring 
and celebrating Juneteenth--and their support of the Houston National 
Emancipation Association.

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