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Why Juneteenth should be celebrated by all

This Web only Speakout has not been edited.

Jason Janz

Published June 12, 2008 at 6:10 p.m.

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Two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted, a Union general by the name of Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas with 2,000 troops. On June 19, 1865, he read the following proclamation: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.” This historic event marked the liberation of the last slaves in America. Ever since then, the memorializing of this event has become the largest celebration of freedom from slavery for the African-American community known as “Juneteenth.”

Denver used to boast one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in the nation, however, for a variety of reasons the celebration fragmented into various small gatherings throughout the metro area. However, this year, former mayor Wellington Webb and a coalition of African-American leaders have formed a team to launch a rebirth of this historic festival. This weekend, thousands of people will gather in the historic Five Points neighborhood to eat, play, listen to music, and learn and appreciate the ways that African-Americans have impacted America and the west.

I am not African-American and I am going to Juneteenth. In fact, I believe that people of all ethnicities should attend if they are able. Why? Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and equality, values that every American should embrace. Just because the peak of the civil rights movement has passed does not mean that racial tension in our community is gone. There is still much work to do. By standing next to the African-American community, you are showing solidarity with them as a partner for peace and harmony in our city.

I also believe that celebrating another culture will enrich your life. Learning about another culture will teach you much about your own. You cannot fully understand your own culture unless you understand others. Saturday will be a study for you in similarities and differences. You will see commonalities that show that all people are more alike than different. At the same time, you will see the differences between your culture and African-American culture as unique gifts from God to make this city a beautiful place to live and work.

Lastly, you need to know that you are invited! Brother Jeff is one of the leading organizers of the festival and at the first planning meeting I attended he said, “We want all people to celebrate our culture.” So, come one, come all. The Bible exhorts us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. You cannot help but weep when you study certain aspects of African-American culture. In the 1920’s, Denver boasted one of the largest chapters of the Ku Klux Klan. We have wept over that. This weekend, let’s rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Let’s show that progress in the west has been made and restore this festival of freedom. Let’s fill Welton Street once again and regain the reputation of having one of the largest Juneteenth festivals in the nation!

Jason Janz (jasonjanz@provideencedenver.org) is the pastor of Providence Bible Church, a new multi-ethnic church in downtown Denver. His church is co-sponsoring the children’s pavilion at Juneteenth.

Comments

  • June 14, 2008

    6:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

    We're supposed to embrace black history, Hispanic history, Indian history, etc., and at the same time all these groups (and the guilt-ridden teachers and professors) are bashing anything white?

    Black history month is shoved down our throats while anything European or White American history is being ignored?

    I grew up with black neighbors, went to school with their kids, and ate at their houses. That was before overnight I became "white" and suddenly an oppressor and somehow a bigot.

  • June 14, 2008

    12:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    No, if anything, we should celebrate the end of the Civil War.

    We should honor those that fought for our country and saved the U.S.A.

    Without those that fought and many gave their lives..America would not be what it is today.

    Oh, I forgot....if only Lincoln would have just went and talked to the South...the war would not have happened.

    Where was Hussien Obama when we needed him?

    Nuff Said!

  • June 17, 2008

    11:33 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SJones writes:

    Gary writes:

    "Without those that fought (to save the Union) and many gave their lives..America would not be what it is today."

    Well, there's a stellar endorsement of Mr. Lincoln's war.

    And indeed, Jimminy, this does seem to smack of white patronization, replete with all the oversimplifications regarding American history and racial relations, and with all the white guilt, that the liberal civil rights activists have historically brought with them in their attempt to shepherd the African-American community.

    Sure, go celebrate Juneteenth if it suits your fancy. But it will come and go and race relations will likely remain unaffected in Denver. It will take more "work" (Janz' term) than attending a yearly celebration to make progress in improving race relations, and frankly, much of that work remains to be done by the other side, as evidenced by the fact that, inter alia, so few of them are willing to "celebrate" our culture.

  • June 17, 2008

    5:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    Well, there's a stellar endorsement of Mr. Lincoln's war.
    Per Sjones

    Hmm...guess the Democrats did not vote for that war either??

    Right?

    Seems like everyone wants to blame a President for going to war..instead of knowing who votes on it.

    Nuff Said!

  • June 18, 2008

    7:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    SJones writes:

    Uh, Gary which war are you talking about? The War Between the States or the Iraq War? I'm confused.

  • June 20, 2008

    8 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gary writes:

    Sjones

    You are confused!

    Nuff Said!

  • August 24, 2008

    9:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Juneteenth writes:

    We join in honoring our ancestors, Americans of African descent, when we celebrate the end of slavery on the "19th of June", Juneteenth, when the announcement of freedom was made two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into affect. "None are free until all are free!"

    Juneteenth is America's 2nd Independence Day celebration. 29 states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or state holiday observance, as well as the District of Columbia and the Congress of the United States.

    Together we will see Juneteenth become a national holiday in America!

    "DOC"
    Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.
    Chairman
    National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign
    National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)
    National Juneteenth Christian Leadership Council (NJCLC)
    www.Juneteenth.us
    www.19thofJune.com
    www.njclc.com
    www.JuneteenthJazz.com