Ancestors Are Reaching Out On Juneteenth

76. i participated when i was a teenager i didn't know what it was but brothers and sisters would come to the park bbq and have fun music and tho i did not appreciate it at the time i do now because we have all grown away from each people period don't have relationships anymore we too busy online onphone onsomethin i'd really like to go back to basics yea we free now but look at how much of our freedoms have been taken away speech privacy and they still look at us like niggas and that will never change i am almost a half a century and i did not expect to be treated this badly almost as if we're going backwards

les k at 3:36PM on Jun 19th 2008

77. While I agree with Kwasi,And I tell anyone who will listen that the war freed the slaves,not Lincoln.Because the out come of war is a 50/50 chance.What would have happened to us if the south would have won?However I do beleive that we as a people do need a occasion on wich to unite and celebrate "our" independence, as well as honor those who gave their lives for our freedom.Until we find a better way toacknowledge and celebrate,we should keep celebrating juneteenth.We should also have an accurate view of the civil war,and why it started.

shataquga at 3:43PM on Jun 19th 2008

78. Respectfully, there are and have been many such events in our history, "particularly" during that same period of time. So, why should this event be anymore or less important as it relates to the freeing of slaves? True, we should as a people hopefully always "remember" these shinning moment(s) that not only reflect both our shared experiences and history, but also that of the American history as well. If, one only takes the time to read American history it's easy to see "many" such similar events ...like same that have occurred prior to, during the same time, and also afterwards! It always never seem to amaze me how our people "pick and choose" events such as this one, but fail to fully magnify and embrace the totatlity of the African American experience here in America. By, all means let's rejoice and share, but however and most importantly let's not "ever forget" that there yet still remains layer upon layer of black experiences that are yet to be told and shared. It's our history, so get involved and pick up a book now and again!

eric at 3:44PM on Jun 19th 2008

79. What a great idea long past due. We did not get our 40 acres and a tractor that was promised, the Indians got theirs, the Japonese families that were locked up during World War 2 got theirs, the Jewish people that were locked up and murdered by the Nazi's got theres, the Cubans that make it to American shores got ours.
We only got welfare and Dr. Martin Luther King Day.This holiday will give us a chance to reunite as Black people and work together as a whole in order to bring about love, peace, and happiness.

Jimmie Floyd at 3:46PM on Jun 19th 2008

80. Iam glad this artilce was written. I would like to see more African Americans celebrate this day. As an elementary educator, it is my duty to share this information with all of my students.
However, I do tell my students Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation not because he thoutht slavery was wrong. In fact he had slaves of his own. But the reason he signed the bill was to Bring the North and South together.

Inger Pride at 3:51PM on Jun 19th 2008

81. THANK GOD FOR PRESIDENT LINCOLN.JUNETEENTH IS WORTHY TO BE CELEBRATED. TO THOSE WHO THINK A JOB IS STILL SLAVERY, A MAN THAT DOESN'T WORK SHOULD NOT EAT. HOW ABOUT BEING YOUR OWN BOSS?

SANDRA at 4:00PM on Jun 19th 2008

82. I find it to disappointing and embaressing how African Americans don't know the importance of Juneteenth. Even more embaressing they don't even know the holiday exist.We party hard for 4th of July and many other holidays that don't have anything to do with African American history.We as a people take Dr.Martin Luther King Jr's birthday to be lazy. Glad AOL took the time to enlighten darkened minds on the most important African American holiday.

Tacinta at 4:01PM on Jun 19th 2008

83. I cannot believe any intelligent person did not know about Junteenth... I am white and I have known about it since I was a small child. It seems to me that blacks should start educating themselves.

jim at 4:08PM on Jun 19th 2008

84. WOW, THANKS FOR THE CONTINUED EDUCATION ONE MORE REASONS TO BE PROUD OF WHO I AM. I WILL SHARE THIS "OUR-STORY" WITH MY CHILDREN.

DARLENE at 4:19PM on Jun 19th 2008

85. As in addition to the celebration of Juneteenth tradition, educational factors must be promoted for assurance of unity especially during an African American Presidential transition. I personaly never knew the significance here in Arizona. For some reason we've been blinded and used this gathering for modern day ignorance. Thanks for reaching out.

Damian Hudson at 4:30PM on Jun 19th 2008

86. Well they say u learn something new every day see in school i dont remember then going over stuff like day if they did i must was absent well i learned sumthing new thanks and much luv.

kells at 5:12PM on Jun 19th 2008

87. Thank you for remembering.

Eddie Griffin at 5:13PM on Jun 19th 2008

88. This is a good article. In many southern states the date for "freedom" is "20th of May" for the same reason that it is "Juneteenth" in Texas and other states. The word did not get to Florida until May 20, 1865. When I was a kid the Black schools would let the children out at "noon" on 20th of May to go and have cook-outs, etc. We still celebrate 20th of May in Tallahassee, Florida.

Joe 1 of Florida at 5:34PM on Jun 19th 2008

89. I wanted to emphasize something that was mentioned in a previous post. Abe Lincoln's first intention WAS NOT TO FREE THE SLAVES. So often, people credit Lincoln for emancipating the slaves, when in reality, that was the LAST thing that he wanted to see happen---just setting the record straight. I'm not sure if I'm gonna say that we're free beacause we still deal with so much everyday as a people. In my opinion, partial freedom is essntially just tolerated slavery in a sense. I'll just say thank God that we as a people have more things made available to us now and if you don't know too much about "Juneteenth", please take some time and do a little reading...

KDIlla at 5:49PM on Jun 19th 2008

90. I.VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS DAY JUNETEENTH.I THINK ALL AFRICAN AMERICANS SHOULD MARK THIS VERY IMPORTANT DAY ON THERE CALENDAR FOR ALL TIMES.I THINK IT IS JUST IMPORTANT TO US AS PASSOVER IS TO THE JEWS.WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THIS DAY WITH FAMILY,FOOD AND DRINK.AND GIVE OUR THANKS TO GOD FOR OUR FREEDOM.

youngerjamie8@aol.com at 5:57PM on Jun 19th 2008