Juneteenth

The City of Winooski proudly recognizes Juneteeth as our newest tradition of welcoming and opportunity by honoring Black freedom and joy in all forms. Our first annual event (organized by the Juneteenth Committee, Downtown Winooski, and the City of Winooski) featured speakers, poetry, dance, music, performances, and opportunities to visit different vendors and activity areas throughout Rotary Park.

Juneteenth commemorates an important date in history. The Emancipation Proclamation was made on January 1, 1863, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. The news finally came on June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state, were free by executive decree.

“Defying confusion and delay, terror and violence, the newly “freed” Black men and women of Texas, with the aid of the Freedmen’s Bureau (itself delayed from arriving until September 1865), now had a date to rally around. In one of the most inspiring grassroots efforts of the post-Civil War period, they transformed June 19 from a day of unheeded military orders into their own annual rite, “Juneteenth,” beginning one year later in 1866.” —  Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

2021 Opening Remarks - Yasamin Gordon, Equity Director, City of Winooski

Juneteenth has been officially observed in Vermont since 2007. Celebrations are becoming more widespread across our nation and within our local communities - I thank you for choosing to celebrate in our wonderful community! Juneteenth is a day of celebration; a day of reflection and recognition. It is important that we not only acknowledge, but work towards amplifying and educating about the pivotal moments for African Americans throughout our Nation's history. In order for us to move towards becoming an inclusive and supportive society, we must first further our understanding of the significant contributions and struggle of Black Americans. Educational curriculums often ignore or glaze over our history and fail to recognize how it helped shape our societal structures, opened America’s doors to immigrants, and quite frankly, built the backbone of this country.

We need to lean into educating ourselves. So with that in mind, let me give you a little history lesson…

June 19th, 1865 - It was a hot day in Galveston, Texas. Union Army Major General Gordon Granger was riding along on his horse, hat on his head, sweating in his wool uniform, tired from the war. He probably didn’t know he was going to change the fate of Americans that day, simply following his military duty by issuing the now-infamous “Order No. 3”, which stated:

“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.”

At that moment, Granger assumed command of the Department of Texas. It had been two and a half years since the emancipation proclamation. Two and a half years. The delay had cost the lives of 200,000 black men who had to keep fighting to end the continuing practice of slavery - well after the 13th amendment had been proclaimed. So when the Major General finally issued Order No. 3, it was of course great cause for celebration. Granger may not have known that day, that his words would mark the beginning of the most popular celebration of the emancipation of slaves in our history. “Equality of Personal Rights” - these words paved the way for future civil rights and immigration rights policy development. They forced white Americans to begin to understand that slaves were in fact NOT property, but people with Human rights. White Americans had to come to the realization that there’s no such thing as ownership over another human being. That was 156 years ago, today. I would be remiss as an Equity Director not to acknowledge that still today - as people of color, as immigrants from different lands who have come here to look for a better life, we still fight for much of that statement to become our collective truth. We are still fighting for our “Equality of Personal Rights”. So, why then do we celebrate when Black folks and people of color; indigenous people, immigrants are still fighting to be free from oppression? Because there is always hope. There is progress being made. Cities and towns, including Winooski - are making strides towards change. Even though we know that the fight goes on, we celebrate because we cannot allow that fight to get in the way of our joy.

We will continue to celebrate every small thing that brings us joy. We will celebrate our hard work and contributions. We will celebrate our history and our culture. We will celebrate our authentic blackness. That’s what Juneteenth is about. Let’s dance and sing, let’s make art, express ourselves, eat & drink. Let’s celebrate being together, in peace. Today - on Juneteenth, we are free.

Several Vermont communities are formally observing Juneteenth for the very first time. Craig Mitchell is on the board of Downtown Winooski, which is planning performances, mural painting, and more. “Let’s dance in the streets and have a wonderful time,” Mitchell said. “Hopefully, people leave with the ideology of ‘let me make it better for all fellow humans.’ Let’s get to the point where we’re all just people; we’re all just humans and we’re all existing together.”

 Media:

• Winooski makes Juneteenth celebration official with city sponsorship

• Juneteenth events across Vermont to acknowledge and ‘celebrate Black liberation’

• Dozens of Juneteenth events happening around the Burlington area

A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2021

“On June 19, 1865 — nearly nine decades after our Nation’s founding, and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation — enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from bondage. As those who were formerly enslaved were recognized for the first time as citizens, Black Americans came to commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations across the country, building new lives and a new tradition that we honor today. In its celebration of freedom, Juneteenth is a day that should be recognized by all Americans. And that is why I am proud to have consecrated Juneteenth as our newest national holiday.”

View the Full Proclamation

Read: President Biden Signs Law Making Juneteenth a Federal Holiday

Read: Governor Phil Scott Commemorates Juneteenth