June 13, 2022- This upcoming weekend, Decatur is once again celebrating Juneteenth with events hosted by the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society, and the Macon County Democrats.
Juneteenth celebrates the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order that granted all enslaved people in confederate states freedom.
Border states were exempt from this proclamation in an effort to prevent them from seceding and joining the Confederacy. Slavery ended in the border states once the 13th amendment was passed, thus abolishing slavery as an institution in all U.S. states and territories. Some border states abolished slavery on their own, before the amendment was passed.
While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1st, 1863, during the third year of the Civil War, by President Abraham Lincoln, it did not initially free all of the enslaved people in confederate states.
Word of the order did not reach Texas until 1865. On June 19th, 1865, around 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state, and grant freedom to the 250,000 enslaved people.
The year following 1865, freed people in Texas organized the first “Jubilee Day”, which was held on June 19th, to commemorate the day. It would become an annual celebration, now referred to as Juneteenth.
Juneteenth was first declared a state holiday by Texas in 1979. It is considered the longest running African American holiday. It officially became a federal holiday on June 17th, 2021.
Three Juneteenth celebrations will be held in Decatur, this year. The festivities will kick off Friday night, and continue throughout the weekend.
The Macon County Democrats will be holding a Juneteenth Fundraiser Gala on Friday, June 17th. The event will be held at Richland Community College. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will be provided. Tickets are $50 per individual, $30 per young professionals, and tables are $500.
To register for the event, click HERE.
The African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society will be hosting its’ 28th annual Juneteenth National Freedom Day Celebration at Central Park, on Saturday, June 18th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A freedom march will begin at 10:40 a.m. on the west side of the Macon County Courthouse, and then attendees will make their way to Central Park for the festivities.
To learn more about the event, visit the African-American Cultural and Genealogical Society website.
On Sunday, June 19th, the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater will be hosting its’ 2nd annual Juneteenth Multicultural Celebration from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be local food vendors, including Vinnies BBQ. The first 200 attendees will be able to eat for free! Live music and contests such as music and poetry will also be featured.
To learn more about the event, click Here.
