O YE DRYBONES :Designing Freedom A Florida Emancipation Day

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 

BUT DIDN'T THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION FREE THE ENSLAVED? 

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, notifying the states in rebellion against the Union that if they did not cease their rebellion and return to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare their slaves forever free. Needless to say, the proclamation was ignored by those states that seceded from the Union. Furthermore, the proclamation did not apply to those slave-holding states that did not rebel against the Union. As a result about 8000,000 slaves were unaffected by the provisions of the proclamation. It would take a civil war to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to formally outlaw slavery in the United States.

Mr. Derek Davis, Curator of Old Dillard Museum, alongside Keachia M. Bowers of Movements for Change will discuss the upcoming event.  We will be screening the documentary 'Dark Girls' an original OWN documentary. 

We will have a panel discussion and community talk addressing the issues surrounding colorism in the black community.  It's a phenomena that's been passed down through generations.  Given to us originally by the oppressor and continues to be spread by each other.  Phrases like, "She's pretty for a dark girl" or the skin bleaching craze that's been popularized amongst blacks in America.