Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1523410
June/July 2024 | maconmagazine.com 73 GALVESTON, TEXAS 1865 Imagine toiling in the hot fi elds of a plantation in Galveston, Texas, in June 1865, under the watchful eye of an overseer with the power of life or death in his grip. You're one of 250,000 Black Texans still enslaved and laboring for free, just as your ancestors have done forcibly for centuries. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed nearly 30 months ago, and Confederate forces surrendered last April. But a proclamation is just a slip of paper until the overseer is made to comply. Then a powerful force of federal troops suddenly arrives to serve a notifi cation from the desk of the President saying that you, too, are now free, just as others around the country had been freed over the past two and a half years. With this news, how could you not scream and shout thanksgiving and celebrate? That reaction is the root of Juneteenth. JUNETEENTH IS BORN AND LIVES ON The following year, the revival of those shouts of joy, and remembrance of the hardships that preceded them, began as Galveston's freedmen hosted activities on the anniversary of their Freedom Day – June 19, 1865, called Juneteenth. The Smithsonian Museum describes those men and women: "With the principles of self- determination, citizenship, and democracy magnifying their hopes and dreams, those Texans held fast to the promise of true liberty for all." The holiday began to take hold in the land of the free-at-last, giving strength to hope that the founding principle would someday fully ring true. Today Juneteenth is acknowledged as the oldest known holiday commemorating the end of slavery in America. For the past 150 years, the tradition has continued and spread across the nation, but it wasn't always easy to gather in remembrance. Despite abolition, anti-gathering laws and other safety concerns remained in place for African Americans, especially during Jim Crow. The holiday wasn't taught in schools, and state and local governments weren't disbursing resources in honor of the tradition, so grassroots organizing has been the key to Juneteenth's longevity. 44 years ago, Juneteenth became a Texas state holiday, but it wasn't until 2021 that it was recognized federally. This change came in the wake of the 2020 nationwide protests against police brutality, which amplifi ed public awareness of the challenges people of color face in America. Alongside a push for policy change, acknowledging our nation's history – its achievements and its fl aws – through cultural events like Juneteenth symbolizes a commitment to seeking wisdom from our past and fi nding resilient joy in our present and future. In Macon, that resilience has been building for generations, and honoring Juneteenth as a cultural event for the whole community began 32 years ago. 1992 marked the fi rst offi cial Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Macon, sponsored by Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center, Inc., and Torchlight Academy, Inc. (KCAC/TLA). KCAC/TLA shares on their website that the site chosen for the festival is signifi cant; Tattnall Square was where Macon's Confederate forces surrendered on April 20, 1865. They also note that Bibb County did not issue a formal proclamation of emancipation until the following July, when the Freedman's Bureau arrived in Macon. This was nearly a month a er Union General Gordon Granger arrived with armed troops – many of them United States Colored Troops, Galveston historian Sam Collins told NPR – to wrest Galveston from Confederate holdouts. While the roots of Juneteenth aren't easy to contemplate, there is joy to be found. Black joy – and joy for people of any race who support liberty for all. In Macon, there will be singing, dancing, educating, art, food, and vibrant culture, welcoming freedom with joyful noise and community. HOW MACONITES WILL CELEBRATE THIS YEAR For 32 years, KCAC/TLA has cra ed activities designed to spotlight Black people's sojourn in America. The festival has aimed to educate locals about Juneteenth, stimulate conversations and positive reactions, and remind residents of the Black community's resilience and resourcefulness as key contributors to America's development. This year's Juneteenth Freedom Festival and Georgia Juneteenth Week are scheduled for June 7-16. The organization has a great presence in the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Reunion. Its sponsored events include a Genealogy Workshop, a Nature Walk for Peace & Wisdom, van tours, and a Hip Hop Neighborhood Tour and Summit. The highlight of the KCAC/TLA Juneteenth week is the festival in Tattnall Square Park June 15 and 16. George F. Muhammad is the co-founder and president of KCAC. He says the annual celebration is a reminder that perfect liberation, especially for Black people and all people, must be relentlessly pursued until it's achieved. "Commemoration of Juneteenth is very necessary because we have so much to awaken to, learn, appreciate, and build upon historically in Middle Georgia," he added. Last year, Macon Black Culture (MBC), led by a new generation of community leaders, including Muse Dixon, Brandon and Nadiyah Harris, Marshall Talley, Amber T. Jones, and Jarvis Adside, presented the fi rst ever Juneteenth Parade, joining KCAC/TLA. MBC has expanded their celebration and in addition to the return of the parade on June 16, the organization added a gala and junior debutante presentation, mixer, Black Business Crawl, Live Podcast, wellness retreat, and fundraiser. MBC will partner with Storytellers Macon for a Juneteenth version of their performance platform, and tie off its activities with a barbecue and fi reworks show. This year's parade Grand Marshals are Zelma Redding and Karla Redding- MBC board member Brandon Harris and his children celebrating Juneteenth 2023.