June 19 marks a pivotal point in American history. On that date in 1865, the last slaves in Texas and, more broadly the Confederate South, were freed.
Although President Abraham Lincoln made slavery illegal with the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, which became federal law on Jan. 1, 1863, it took nearly 2 1/2 years for that message to be relayed to Texas.
“It is a day that we will bring people together in unity,” said Corine Mack, president of the NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg chapter. “We have a rich history, and we are inviting the community to come and celebrate with us.”
On Friday, the NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg chapter will hold a commemoration of Juneteenth called "Breaking the Chains."
Mack said this year’s celebration comes as the country confronts its history of systemic racism during nationwide protests against police brutality and racism after the death of George Floyd.
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“George Floyd was a sacrificial lamb. We watched the life slowly seep out of his body. Nobody who saw that eight minutes and 46 seconds will ever forget it.”
There are three elements of the commemoration that will be part of the presentation, love, remembrance and enlightenment.
“I believe God preordained each of us to do something,” she said. “We need everyone to bring their gifts to the table to change the systemic racism that is in place. If you’re just coming to protest, then you aren’t helping change the system.”
Today, 47 states and Washington, D.C., recognize Juneteenth as either a state holiday or ceremonial holiday. The three states that do not recognize Juneteenth are Hawaii, North Dakota and South Dakota.
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“I’m so proud of so many allies who are stepping up. This is different. That is what love does.”
Juneteenth is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth” in honor of the day that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that Lincoln had two years earlier freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive.
The rally will start at First Ward Park at 6:30 p.m. followed by a march to the Black Lives Matter street art on South Tryon Street. Organizers ask that participants wear a mask to protect others from exposure to the coronavirus.
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