Community Chat

[qbetzforreal]

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@Oznell wrote:

qbetzforreal, thanks. We would never want to minimize the importance of the Texas event, but please see Smithsonian article above on why this takes on a general meaning for all of us.

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@Oznell- No, we cannot never minimize the event which happened in Texas.  It's the very reason why there is Juneteenth.

[esmerelda]

There is a small community celebration here.  It may have been last weekend...I don't know for sure.

[esmerelda]

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@Annabellethecat66 wrote:

My guess is most people don't know about it.  I didn't.  I hope people take a few minutes to tell their children (all children) about the day.

A few years ago I took my (then 12) year old granddaughter to a restaurant that had a counter to sit on.  I explained that there was a time when I was young (I'm now 70) when only white people could sit at a counter like this....She was shocked to hear it was still in my life-time....  As we sat there talking a Hispanic gentleman (working behind the counter) joined in the conversation.  He was probably in his late 60's.  He told her about his life in his native country and how difficult it was and why he and his family came to America.

It was a wonderful day and one she has talked about more than once.  Children are very receptive to learning and are curious.  They are more likely to remember and show an interest if you put things into perspective (time-wise) by putting it (the 'lesson') into something they can relate to.  At least that's what I discovered.

I try not to TELL them what to think (I want them to draw their own conclusions) but I think that can only be done when they hear all sides.  You have to trust that they have been educated enough to make the right decisions.  If not, perhaps they will learn a little something.

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@Annabellethecat66 I guess the restaurant was in the south?  Otherwise, what an odd conversation to have...out of the blue.

[Annabellethecat66]

@esmerelda Actually was just a few miles from Washington, DC in Va.... Some call it the South but if you live near DC in Va these days you'd definitely not call it the South.

I don't see where it was so strange.  I'd been talking to my granddaughters about racism (they bring up the topics) and I told them about growing up in Va (right outside of DC).  I remember at a GC Murphys Department store in the basement area there were signs that said "Colored" and "Whites".  This was probably in the late 50's very late 50's.  I remember when my high school (again Va) first had African Americans come there.  We all became friends and there was never any problems.  My little sisters are younger than me and I don't know if you ever saw the movie "Remember the Titans" about TC Williams High School but they went there at that time.

People think desegration happened over night but it was more gradual than some people think.  I think it is important to put into perspective some of what happened so young people can understand better.

I thought it was a perfect time to teach something I knew and experienced first hand.  My grandchildren know when they ask me something, as long as it doesn't go against what my daughter says, I will always do my best to tell the truth and never talk down to them.  This was a way of showing it.

[Dimples1]

Yes, a lot of people are not aware of this time in America, but informing,acknowledging, withoutnegative thoughts go a long way.

Educate the children with knowledge, as you educate the adults, we still have a way to go here. Equality,Justice and Respect for All.

[Kachina624]

@Oznell  Most people probably don't know what you're talking about when you say Juneteeth.   I do, because it was a state holiday in Texas and I live there for 30+ years. 

[Marienkaefer2]

I used to live in a city that had quite a few celebrations for Juneteenth. 

Where I currently live, there's nothing that I'm aware of.

While the freeing of slaves was certainly a historic event, it didn't even come close to ending discrimination and persecution, also known as Jim Crow, which lasted well into the 1960s.

I highly recommend that anyone who feels they need to expand their knowledge of this part of our history read the following book:

"The Warmth of Other Suns:  The Epic Story of America's Great Migration" by Isabel Wilkerson.

It's a long book, but so well written and holds your attention, that I guarantee you won't want to put it down.

[Oznell]

Thanks, Kachina624.  I posted the link to the Smithsonian article for that reason, since it seems to give a really good history of the day and the significance it has achieved.  But I realize now some people may not have liked to click on a random link.

In short, the abolition of slavery in Texas, and by extension, the rest of the Confederacy, was announced on June 19, 1865.   There is a long history of observance of the day, at first mainly locally, and then over time, becoming a general day to observe the ending of slavery.  To date, only 5 states in the United States have not made it a special day of observance.

I like the personal, familial and symbolic nature of Juneteenth.  I plan to have our family read the Emancipation Proclamation.  For food, i haven't felt like preparing too much hot food in this weather, but one thing we always have on national holidays is hotdogs! 

So even if they're not grilled, hot dogs are "celebratory' for us, and we will have them with chips!!!  (That is always a celebration in my salt-craving book).  Two kinds of ice cream for dessert--  cold-brewed coffee ice cream, and black raspberry ice cream...

[Oznell]

Marienkaefer, I saw her interviewed on C-Span, I think it was.  Her account was absolutely riveting and I can well imagine her book to be the same...