Juneteenth Celebration Program Cover |
Juneteenth Celebration
A celebration of the anniversary of June 19, 1865,
the day Texas received word that President Lincoln had freed the
slaves -- over two years after his Emancipation Proclamation was
issued. On June 3, 1979, Texas was the first state to proclaim
Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) an official state holiday. Although
informal Juneteenth celebrations in Ft. Worth date back to the late
19th century, Juneteenth has been observed in the city with an
official celebration since 1979. Citizens Concerned with Human
Dignity, a Ft. Worth charitable organization whose primary focus is
providing for needy minority citizens of the city, currently
sponsors the Juneteenth Celebration. Parades, picnics, musical
performances, the crowning of a "Miss Juneteenth," historical
presentations, fireworks, employment and health fairs are included
in the festivities. Project documentation comprises a narrative, a
booklet, Juneteenth Ft. Worth, 1880-1999 , newspaper
coverage, several Juneteenth Celebration programs, photos with
descriptions, a videotape entitled "Juneteenth, A Celebration
Remembered," and a celebration banner.
Originally submitted by: Martin Frost, Representative (24th District).
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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.
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