Juneteenth, Emancipation Day in Texas: June 19th, 1865. President Lincoln was dead by two months, the American Civil War transitioning into a rocky post-war "Reconstruction" period. Formal slavery was over, replaced in part by "wage slavery." The free black population in places like Texas needed immediately to establish the basics like food, shelter and clothing, but also excercise mobility, travel, and as much self-autonomy as possible.
Now, coming up on the 150th anniversary of the original Juneteenth (in 2015), June 19th is a state holiday or day of observance in many parts of the USA, including Texas. In Fort Worth, Buttons ("Food and Music for the Soul") is celebrating all week with specials, and downtown there will be music and a Juneteenth parade at the weekend.
Today's Rune: Initiation.
4 comments:
They celebrate it here. although I don't think they have a lot of big celebrations.
Erik, how interesting! I have never even heard of this...
I've never heard of this either. Than again I'm not that far into the south, soo...:p
They used to do minor remembrances of Juneteenth in Detroit but that stopped about thirty-forty years ago, Time moved past it.
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