In a message dated 1/23/07 4:03:00 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:


> Why would you not want to celebrate the end of slavery, unless you miss
> it?  Even year people of my faith celebrate our release from slavery in
> Egypt some 3,000 years ago; surely African Americans should do the same;
> as should white Americans who can celebrate the end of their tragic
> relationship to the sytem.
> 
> Forgetting slavery would mean forgetting a central piece of American
> history; forgetting the experience of 40% or more of the Virginia
> population (if we include the masters and their families it would be
> about 75%) up to 1865; it would be forgetting the cause of the civil war
> and the reason the Confederacy was created (Slavery was the
> "cornerstone" of the Confederacy according Confederate Vice President
> Alexander Stephens). 
> 
> Juneteenth is problematic for Va. although it is recognized as the day
> slavery was finally over in Texas.  I would think Emancipation Day (Jan.
> 1) or the day of the ratification of the 13th Amendment, would make more
> sense.
> 
> Paul FInkelman
> 
> Paul Finkelman
> President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law
>      and Public Policy
> Albany Law School
> 80 New Scotland Avenue
> Albany, New York   12208-3494
> 
> 

Dear Paul:

The end of slavery in the District of Columbia (1862, I am blanking on the 
exact date) was celebrated as a local holiday by the entire black population of 
the District till the early 20th century.   I guess as the percentage of the 
black population born after slavery started to outnumber those who were         
exslaves the popularity of the event started to wane.    Juneteenth is still 
celebrated very actively and widely in Texas but hasn't caught on as well 
elsewhere.    The other notable fact of the DC emancipation is that it was the 
only one where the slaveowners were monetarily compensated for the loss of their 
slaves.   Lincoln was one cagey politician and couldn't risk open rebellion in 
DC a southern city with a lot of southern sympathizers residing there!   


Anita L. Henderson

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