The Oldest African American Genealogy Group in the State of Alabama Founded in 1999 in Birmingham, Alabama P.O. Box 12011 Birmingham, AL 35202; Email: tjm_rejoice@yahoo.com (New) Website: www.baaggroup.org ALL Photos in this Blog Are Copyright protected 2016-2024 by author of BAAGG Inc Check us out on Facebook and at our New Website: baaggroup.org ""2024"" BAAGG celebrates 25 Years as a Group
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
BIRMINGHAM AFRICAN AMERICAN GENEALOGY GROUP SUPPORTING BCRI
THE BIRMINGHAM JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WILL BE HELD
JUNE 18TH, 2016
Juneteenth is the oldest known
celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June
19th that Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed
at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves
were free. Note that this was two-and-a-half years after President
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which had become official January 1,
1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due
to the minimal number of Union troops present 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, forces were strong enough
to influence and overcome any resistance.
Later attempts to explain this two-and-a-half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another is that the news was deliberately withheld by slave masters to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another is that federal troops actually waited for slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All or neither could be true. For whatever reason, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.
Reactions to news of emancipation ranged from shock to jubilation. Even with nowhere to go, many former slaves felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination for many and represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove some to Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore nonexistent status for black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew through the years. Certain foods, such as strawberry soda pop, have become popular and synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations. More traditional, and just as popular, is barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors--newly emancipated African Americans--would have experienced during their ceremonies. Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of slaves. According to some accounts of early emancipation celebrations, slaves tossed their ragged garments into creeks and rivers and adorned clothing taken from plantations belonging to their former masters.
Later attempts to explain this two-and-a-half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another is that the news was deliberately withheld by slave masters to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another is that federal troops actually waited for slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All or neither could be true. For whatever reason, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.
Reactions to news of emancipation ranged from shock to jubilation. Even with nowhere to go, many former slaves felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination for many and represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove some to Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore nonexistent status for black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew through the years. Certain foods, such as strawberry soda pop, have become popular and synonymous with Juneteenth celebrations. More traditional, and just as popular, is barbecuing, through which Juneteenth participants share in the spirit and aromas that their ancestors--newly emancipated African Americans--would have experienced during their ceremonies. Dress was also an important element in early Juneteenth customs. During slavery there were laws on the books in many areas that prohibited or limited the dressing of slaves. According to some accounts of early emancipation celebrations, slaves tossed their ragged garments into creeks and rivers and adorned clothing taken from plantations belonging to their former masters.
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Scottsboro Alabama Black History Trip
This city is only known by the trials of the Boys who by 2 white women claim to have been raped by them.
No one talks about the wealth of a Black man whose wealth given him by his white slave owner. With 4 percent of African Americans in this town Black History is held back but is known world wide
The Scottsboro Boys Last Stand in this Town |
History Left Behind and Still being Told Today |
A Juneteenth Celebration June 18th, 2016
Scottsboro Alabama
Scottsboro Alabama
Mark Your Calendars a Celebration to Remember. Juneteenth IN Scottsboro |
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