[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 87 (Thursday, June 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE 146TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNETEENTH AND THE 18TH ANNUAL 
 CELEBRATION OF THE JUNETEENTH FREEDOM & HERITAGE FESTIVAL IN MEMPHIS, 
                               TENNESSEE

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2011

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 146th 
anniversary of Juneteenth and the 18th annual celebration of the 
Juneteenth Freedom and Heritage Festival in Memphis, Tennessee. On June 
19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and 
announced in the town square that all slaves were free. Although this 
came nearly 3 years after the issuance of the Emancipation 
Proclamation, the newly freed men and women rejoiced in the streets 
with jubilant celebrations, and thus, the Juneteenth holiday was born. 
The theme of this year's Memphis festival is ``Juneteenth Salutes `The 
Divine Nine' in 2011.''
   Founded out of the necessity to combat racial discrimination and 
segregation, the Divine Nine is a collective group of nine historically 
African-American sororities and fraternities that together, create the 
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated. The Divine Nine works to 
promote unity, camaraderie, academic excellence and community service.
   The Divine Nine is made up of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha 
Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta 
Fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Phi 
Beta Sigma Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and the Zeta Phi Beta 
Sorority. They have profoundly impacted the lives of both their members 
and those they serve. Many of these organizations address issues 
related to social justice, human rights, poverty and economic security 
in African-American communities.
   Over the years, countless Memphians have become members of these 
organizations and have made significant contributions to our community. 
Some include: current city of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., Alpha Phi 
Alpha; Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone, Alpha Kappa Alpha; 6th 
Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bernice Donald, Zeta Phi Beta; and 
Pastor Kenneth Whalum, Jr., Phi Beta Sigma. Some who have fought for 
civil rights and equality are: Former president of the Memphis branch 
of the NAACP Velma Lois Jones, Alpha Kappa Alpha; current NAACP 
Executive Board member O.C. Pleasant Jr., Kappa Alpha Psi; and the late 
civil rights leader and former executive director of the NAACP Reverend 
Dr. Benjamin Hooks, Omega Psi Phi.
   As we celebrate sororities and fraternities this Juneteenth, Delta 
Sigma Theta will host their 43rd Southern Regional Conference in 
Memphis. Some accomplished Memphian Deltas are cofounder Mary Church 
Terrell, singer Aretha Franklin, State Reps. Johnnie Turner and Lois 
DeBerry, Olympian Rochelle Stevens and National Civil Rights Museum 
Executive Director Beverly Robertson. Delta Sigma Theta has organized 
many initiatives that have improved African-American communities such 
as foreclosure prevention workshops, ACT test sessions and raising 
millions of dollars in college scholarships.
   Mr. Speaker, it is in the spirit of these great organizations that I 
ask my colleagues to join me in observing our nation's 146th 
anniversary of Juneteenth and the celebrations in Memphis. This is a 
time to reflect upon the end of slavery in America and to recognize the 
many contributions of African-American citizens. As the Alpha Phi 
Alpha, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, the Emancipation Proclamation 
``came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.''

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