[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H4320-H4321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               JUNETEENTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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, I rise to acknowledge the 
World Refugee Day as we keep the flame of hope alive, showing some 20.8 
million internally displaced refugees fleeing persecution who are now 
looking to the world to ask for relief.
  As I stand to acknowledge that day, I draw the House's attention to a 
day I believe that symbolizes the hopes and dreams of many. Although 
the occasion of Juneteenth happens to be a holiday that is celebrated 
by African Americans, it is, in fact, the oldest nationally celebrated 
commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. So I say 
simply that it is symbolic of people who are in need of empowerment.
  And, in fact, this celebration took place in this country, and 
certainly in the State of Texas, over the last 3 days, this past 
weekend. I participated with my colleagues in different States to 
celebrate Juneteenth, as well as my constituents, on Saturday and 
Sunday and Monday.
  From its Galveston, Texas, origin in 1865, the observance of June 19 
is considered the African American Emancipation Day even as it claimed 
a time frame in which African Americans were actually denied the 
knowledge of their freedom. Those in Texas did not hear of the 
declaration that President Lincoln made until 1865.
  Today Juneteenth commemorates, I believe, African American freedom 
and symbolically freedom around the world. And that is why in the 
beginning I stood and acknowledged this is World Refugee Day, for 
refugees are looking for freedom and hope, and they belong to us, and 
they are placed around the world.
  This special day of Juneteenth, however, emphasizes education and 
achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with 
celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings.

                              {time}  2250

  It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for 
assessment, self-improvement and planning for the future. But it is a 
time for reinvesting, restoring ourselves. It relates to the struggle 
of freedom. It reinforces the fact that freedom is not easy and it is 
not free, and as those who stood witness waiting in the State of Texas 
near the Galveston Bay to find out whether they were free, there are 
many who still stand waiting for that call of freedom.
  The growing popularity of Juneteenth signifies a level of maturity 
and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, 
people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to 
truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and 
continues to influence our society today. Sensitized the ties to the 
conditions and experiences much others only then can we make 
significant and lasting improvements in our society.
  The civil rights movement of the fifties and sixties yielded both 
positive and negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. While it 
pulled many of the African American youth away and into the struggle 
for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical 
struggles of their ancestors. They wanted to be free of the Juneteenth 
celebration.
  This was evidenced as students began to participate in student 
demonstrations involved in the Atlanta civil rights campaign in the 
early 1960s, who wore Juneteenth freedom buttons. Again, in 1968, 
Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through the Poor Peoples 
March to Washington, D.C. Reverend Ralph David Abernathy called for 
people of all races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to 
Washington to show their support for the poor.
  Juneteenth has a way of generating the kind of compassion for the 
struggle and, of course, a reason for fighting for freedom.
  Let me thank Representative Al Edwards, a constituent of mine and a 
State representative who can be called the father of Juneteenth in the 
State of Texas, establishing the first State holiday for African 
Americans, Juneteenth, June 19, here in the State of Texas that we have 
the opportunity to celebrate.
  He has not finished his work, for he continues to promote the 
Juneteenth Commission, and I am very proud that on Monday morning, we 
opened and christened the first Juneteenth statute in the State of 
Texas. This holiday, however, is spreading across the country as a 
symbol of freedom.
  Tomorrow we will have the opportunity, as we have had today, to 
acknowledge the that people are still struggling for freedom by World 
Refugee Day, but tomorrow this body will have the opportunity to 
reauthorize the Voting Rights Act of 1965, now in 2006, now named the 
Fannie Lou Hammer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights 
Act.
  I ask my colleagues in the name of Juneteenth and many other symbolic 
holidays that establish and create freedom, that we should stand tall 
for the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. It should not be a 
political struggle or a power struggle. It should be the right 
struggle, the right thing to do.
  And for those who intend to offer what we call poison pill 
amendments, I would ask my colleagues to defeat them handily, because 
the Voting Rights Act is a symbol of freedom for all, all colors, all 
creeds, to be able to suggest that every citizen has a right to vote. 
Whether they speak English or not, Mr. Speaker, they have a right to 
vote, and these amendments that are being offered to undermine their 
voting rights say that if you are a citizen and you speak a different 
language, you cannot have the protection of the Voting Rights Act.
  I ask my colleagues to join us in continuing the freedom statement of 
the Juneteenth holiday and to vote for the Voting Rights Act tomorrow. 
Juneteenth is alive and well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the occasion of Juneteenth, the oldest 
nationally celebrated

[[Page H4321]]

commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its 
Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the 
African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States 
and beyond.
  Today Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom. This special 
day emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in 
some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics 
and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is 
a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. 
Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in 
America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all 
races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully 
acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to 
influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and 
experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting 
improvements in our society.
  The Civil Rights movement of the 50's and 60's yielded both positive 
and negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. While it pulled 
many of the African American youth away and into the struggle for 
racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical 
struggles of their ancestors. This was evidenced by student 
demonstrators involved in the Atlanta civil rights campaign in the 
early 1960's, whom wore Juneteenth freedom buttons. Again in 1968, 
Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through Poor Peoples 
March to Washington D.C.. Rev. Ralph Abernathy's call for people all 
races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to Washington to 
show support for the poor. Many of these attendees returned home and 
initiated Juneteenth celebrations in areas previously absent of such 
activity. In fact, two of the largest Juneteenth celebrations founded 
after this March are now held in Milwaukee and Minneapolis.


                         Texas Blazes the Trail

  On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday 
through the efforts Rep. Al Edwards, an African American state 
legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as 
the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. 
Representative Edwards has since actively sought to spread the 
observance of Juneteenth all across America.


                       Juneteenth In Modern Times

  Throughout the 80's and 90's Juneteenth has continued to enjoy a 
growing and healthy interest from communities and organizations 
throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry 
Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring Juneteenth-centered 
activities. In recent years, a number of National Juneteenth 
Organizations have arisen to take their place along side older 
organizations--all with the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge 
and appreciation of African American history and culture.
  Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom while 
encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes 
on a more national and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in 
Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this fertile 
soil from which a national day of pride is growing. The future of 
Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states come on 
board and form local committees and organizations to coordinate the 
activities.
  With the Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 
coming up on the floor tomorrow, it is important to remember that the 
VRA is one of the most effective civil rights statute ever enacted, and 
while its successes has generated increased political power for many at 
the local, state, and federal levels, there is still much work to be 
done. Critical provisions of the Act, including the language assistance 
provisions contained within Section 203, are set to expire next year. 
The right to vote is only meaningful when the language of the ballot 
and other election materials is fully comprehensible to the voter.
  Recently, a 9-foot bronze statue, created by Eddie Dixon of Lubbock, 
was erected in the city of Galveston, TX. The Statue depicts a man 
holding the state law that made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1979. It 
was at the Ashton Villa where Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the U.S. Army 
is believed to have read a proclamation on June 19, 1865, announcing 
that slaves were free. The historic emancipation proclamation enacted 
by President Abraham Lincoln went into effect Jan. 1, 1863. Monday 
marked the 27th year that people have gathered to celebrate Juneteenth.

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