Slavery, and the end thereof, is something better forgotten than celebrated.
In a message dated 01/23/07 15:43:07 Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes:
On Jan 23, 2007, at 3:30 PM, Yojsouth wrote:
> Just another made up PC holiday like Kwanza.
>
>
This is inaccurate. In Austin, Texas, "Juneteenth was first celebrated
in 1867 under the direction of the Freedmen's Bureau, and became part
of the calendar of public events by 1872." More at
http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/JJ/lkj1.html,
including bibliography.
Its observance in Virginia is another matter, of course, though there
were celebrations recorded widely when news of Emancipation reached
Virginia's slaves and, as Harold Forsythe notes, commemorative
celebrations followed for many years.
Why not research the day when most who commemorated Emancipation in
Virginia chose to do so (April 9? January 1?), and encourage official
commemorations then?
--Jurretta Heckscher
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