"This will be the greatest honor of my life as President of the United States!" exclaimed President Joe Biden moments before he signed Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth is the day that African Americans celebrate as their independence day, the day that the United States rode to Texas to enforce the President's order to free the slaves.
Juneteenth was first celebrated outside of Texas in Hattiesburg, MS and is the oldest celebration in the history of Hattiesburg. It's founder was Marian H. W. Reed. Each year, Marian's son, Rev. Ray A. Smith, through the Ray E Foundation, continues her legacy and organizes the event in Hattiesburg each year.
Notable, Former Assistant Director & Former Host of Juneteenth, Derrian "Mr. Hattiesburg" Moye, said this is a long standing victory for his family and the community. Collectively his family oversee the black history celebrations throughout the city, as his organization, Hattiesburg Management Group, oversees the Black History celebrations in February and his uncle, Rev. Ray A. Smith, organizes Juneteenth in June.
"I spoke with Uncle Tony earlier today to congratulate him on Juneteenth being an official holiday. I know the hard fought struggle that he's had to endure nationally to make this day happen, he and the National Juneteenth organization, in which he is a board member. I think Aunt Marian would be proud to see her son carry her legacy on each and every year, bringing our community together!" said Moye.
Vice President Kamala Harris made clear that Junenteeth is not the end of slavery. Slavery ended 2 1/2 years early. Juneteenth was first celebrated 156 years ago as black slaves in Texas claimed their freedom.
It wasn't until 6 months later that the 13 amendment was ratified to end slavery.
The Vice President said, "We must learn and teach our children our history. It's apart of American History." Vice President Harris also noted that we are standing "footsteps away from were Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation," giving very historical context to the moment.
President Biden said that signing this bill means "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!" He also noted this is the first national holiday since four decades ago when Martin Luther King Jr. was consecrated a federal holiday. He went on to say that, "Hate doesn't go away it hides" but "great nations don't ignore painful moments, they embrace them."
Biden signed the bill into law and gave the first pen to Rep. Sheila Jackson, the author of the bill that made Juneteenth law.
Hattiesburg Juneteenth Celebration is schedule to take place this Saturday at Vernon Dahmer Park.
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