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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration Foundation |
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(MCJCF) is commemorating Juneteenth, the historic date that |
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signifies the end of slavery in Texas, with five days of |
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family-oriented events; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by |
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President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, formally outlawed |
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slavery in areas of the country that were still in rebellion, true |
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emancipation was not achieved in the South until the end of the |
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Civil War, when Union troops brought enforcement of the decree to |
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the states of the Confederacy; on June 19, 1865, two months after |
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the war ended, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army |
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arrived in Galveston and issued General Order Number 3, informing |
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the people of Texas that all slaves were now free; and |
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WHEREAS, Compliance with the order on the part of slave |
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owners was often slow, and it would take months before all of those |
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held in bondage would obtain their freedom; by the end of the year, |
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however, the approximately 250,000 men, women, and children in |
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Texas who had been enslaved were beginning new lives as free |
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citizens; the shock that many of them felt upon first learning of |
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their freedom quickly turned to jubilation, and they continued to |
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express their joy and reverence for this momentous day with |
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celebrations in the years following the Civil War; and |
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WHEREAS, With their newfound freedom, many slaves |
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immediately left their former owners and struck out in search of |
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opportunity and a chance to use their talents as they saw fit; free |
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to travel, many began searching for the family members that had been |
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taken from them; they also formed communities, schools, and |
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churches, creating institutions and networks that would sustain |
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them through the difficult years ahead; and |
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WHEREAS, Juneteenth festivities became a vital part of |
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African American culture, and entire communities began to |
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commemorate June 19, 1865, and the pivotal role it played in our |
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state's history; an annual remembrance of the slaves' long-awaited |
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release from bondage, it became a time when families would put on |
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their finest clothes and gather to enjoy food, parades, and other |
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festivities, while reflecting on all that had been endured and |
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overcome; over the years, Texans carried the celebration of |
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Juneteenth with them to neighboring states, and awareness of this |
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historic day continues to grow throughout our country with each |
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passing year; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of the date's significance, the Texas |
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Legislature passed a bill in 1979 making Juneteenth an official |
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state holiday, effective January 1, 1980; and |
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WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration features a |
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series of free educational and cultural events, including a |
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historical reenactment, a parade, a golf tournament, a health and |
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wellness fair, and a musical festival; the flagship program of the |
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celebration is the Community Service Awards Gala and Reception, |
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which honors those who have made a significant contribution to Fort |
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Bend County and its citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, The Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration provides a |
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welcome opportunity to mark the end of slavery while paying homage |
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to the immeasurable legacy of the African American community in the |
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Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the annual Missouri City Juneteenth |
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Celebration and extend to the Missouri City Juneteenth Celebration |
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Foundation sincere best wishes for a successful event; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the foundation as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |