CLARION UNIVERSITY HOLDS FIRST JUNETEENTH OBSERVANCE

Students and faculty at Clarion University celebrated Juneteenth, June 19, with music, poetry, prayer, and food. It was the first event held in the shadows of the newly constructed bell tower near Carlson Library.
 

Dr. Brenda Dédé, assistant vice president for academic affairs, organized the observance, which included a presentation by the Buffalo Soldiers of Vision Quest in Franklin. The Buffalo Soldiers, presented their "buff steps," a modern version of the steps created by Buffalo Soldiers to entertain themselves when the were not allowed to enter the saloons and other attractions their white counterparts could.

Brandon Phillips, a junior elementary education major, read two poems, "Being Black" by Graham L. Black III, and "We Rose" by Kristina Kay. Philips is a son of Beryl Everett of Verona and a graduate of Penn Hills High School.

Dr. Stevan McCrory, director of the Education Opportunities Program/Act 101, led the prayer.

The Clarion University bell tower was programmed to play "Lift Every Voice and Sing," written in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and considered the "Negro National Anthem."

According to www.juneteenth.com, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.

The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and his Union Soldiers, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the slaves were now free. This happened two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the small number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger's regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to quell any resistance.

The website reports three major theories as to why it took so long for Texans to learn of the emancipation. One is a popular story of a messenger was unable to reach Texas with the news because he was attacked and murdered along the way. Another is that the slave-owners did not tell their slaves in order to maintain the forced labor on the plantations. It is also theorized that federal troops actually waited to announce the news so they could receive one last cotton harvest.

Juneteenth celebrations declined over the years, and the Civil Rights Movement both encouraged and discouraged the event. While it pulled many of the African American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors. Student demonstrators, who wore Juneteenth freedom buttons, involved in the Atlanta civil rights campaign evidenced this in the early 1960's. Again in 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through Poor Peoples March to Washington, D.C. Many in attendance went home and created Juneteenth celebrations in areas without any. Two of the largest Juneteenth celebrations founded after the march are now held Milwaukee and Minneapolis.

In Texas, African American state legislator Al Edwards established Juneteenth as an official state holiday in 1980. The passage of the bill made Juneteenth the first emancipation celebration with official state recognition. Edwards has since actively sought to spread the observance of the holiday all across the United States.

Juneteenth has continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from communities and organizations throughout the country in the last two decades. The Smithsonian, Henry Ford Museum, and other institutions have sponsored Juneteenth-centered activities.

Because the celebrations are so scattered, www.juneteenth.com has provided a communications network to help promote Juneteenth celebrations across the United States. More information can be found at the website.

The African American Faculty Caucus, the Office of Minority Student Services, Carlson Library, and the Office of Graduate Studies sponsored the event.

The gathering for Clarion University�s first Juneteenth celebration rises for the playing of �Lift Every Voice and Sing.� Dr. Brenda Dede is at left.

Brandon Phillips (front) reads poetry during Clarion University�s Juneteenth observance.