Lufkin Juneteenth Celebration Starts Saturday
Juneteenth -- June 19th -- is the anniversary of the official ending of slavery in the United States. It was on that date in 1865 that Union Army General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, and proclaimed the Emancipation Proclamation that abolished slavery and freed the slaves in the 10 Confederate states.
The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, and it went into effect on January 1st of 1863, but the Union had to win the Civil War for it to become enforceable law in the South.
From its beginning in Texas in June of 1865, the annual observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is also a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future.
Lufkin's annual Juneteenth parade will be held tomorrow - Saturday - at Brandon Park on Hosea Dolphus Street. Line up begins and 10 a.m. and the parade starts at 11 a.m.
The Friendship Social Club will hold the "official" Juneteenth celebration on Tuesday at the Hope Center of North Lufkin, 1204 Cain St.
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