by Ray Fauteux

Created on: May 29, 2007   Last Updated: February 23, 2009

Even though Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, it was about two and half years late in coming.

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was announced yet somehow was two years late in officially taking place. It wasn't until June 19th, 1865 when General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas and announced that slaves were now free.

Nobody seems to know the reason for the long delay, but there were many rumors about the reason for the 30 month interlude.

There is one story that the messenger that was sent with the original message about the abolition of slavery was killed before he reached his Texas destination. Another story claims that the delay was to allow slave owners the time to get a few more crops of cotton out of the fields before the end of slavery was announced.

Regardless, Juneteenth refers to June 19th when at last it was officially announced that slavery had been abolished. It is the oldest known celebration related to the abolition of slavery in the United States.

Yet, is there really reason to celebrate when one considers the life of today's average African-American? Should the champagne really be flowing? Is it time for a parade? I wonder if the generation of colored people who celebrated freedom from the grip of slavery could possibly have imagined where that freedom was eventually to lead?The euphoria of Juneteenth was not exactly the midas touch that was meant to lead African-Americans to the land of milk and honey and to streets paved with gold. It did not eventually lead to all the spoils that were supposed to come once an entire people were finally free from oppression.How could anyone ever have imagined that early in the 21st century almost 70% of prison populations would be comprised of African-Americans? Who could have predicted that when a colored child is born into a depressed family situation, his destiny is already pre-ordained? What the future holds for that child is not necessarily freedom when it leads to a future of drugs, violence, and murder. How could they possibly have known that obesity in the African-American community would be so rampant that most will suffer from diabetes, stroke, heart disease, cancer, and a myriad of other diseases at some point in their lives?Yes, by all means. Let's have a picnic and fireworks. Let's have a parade and celebrate Juneteenth.Let's celebrate.

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