Blisteringly HOT Juneteenth In Texas

I think I will be limiting my outdoor exposure on this next to last Monday of June.

Also known as Juneteenth.

103 degrees today, with the humidity making it really feel like 107 degrees. 

Not a strong enough wind to make for a chilling wind chill factor to make those 103 feel cooler.

Methinks this coming summer is going to be way too HOT...

HOT Sikes Lake Fishing On A Federal Juneteenth Holiday

Can you see the four fishermen fishing in Sikes Lake today on this special Juneteenth federal holiday?

I got my outer world exposure an hour earlier than I usually do, hoping to avoid getting overheated in the HOT heat.

It did not work. The heat dome hovering overhead is getting to be a bit oppressive, even though the temperature was nine degrees shy of 100, the humidity made that relatively cool temperature feel way too HOT.

I have often seen fishermen and women fishing in Sikes Lake. I have only seen a fish caught one time. And that was by a fisherwoman.

I did not know, til hearing so on the radio, whilst walking around Sikes Lake, that due to June 19 falling on a Sunday, the Juneteenth federal holiday is today, closing the post office, banks and federal offices.

Happy Juneteenth Father's Day

I really do not like how it seems to be that time is flying by faster all the time.

Hard to believe it has been five years since I had a Father's Day McDonald's Buffet with my dear ol' dad.

At that point in time I blogged about that particular Father's Day in Dad's Father's Day McDonald's Buffet With Uncle Mooch & Tillie.

A screen cap of such is what you see above, with dad staring at the camera whilst holding one of his McDonald's favorites, likely an Egg McMuffin.

Today is the first time the new Juneteenth holiday and Father's Day are happening on the same day.

I had a nice HOT Father's Day hike in Lucy Park this morning, feeling a bit melancholy. So much has happened and changed since five years ago today. And before you know it, another five years will fly by...

Hope Everyone Is Having A Happy Juneteenth All Things Considered

Prior to moving to Texas I had not heard of Juneteenth.

In 1980 Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth to be a state holiday. Since then 42 other states, including my old home state of Washington, have joined Texas in officially recognizing this holiday.

Why Juneteenth? Why not September 22, when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation? Or January 1 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect?

Well, the answer to that question has to do with Texas, with Texas being the last state of the Confederacy restored to being under American control.

It was not until June 18, 1865 that 2,000 federal troops arrived at Galveston Island to begin the post Civil War occupation of Texas.

On June 19 Union General Gordon Granger stood on a balcony at Galveston's Ashton Villa to read to the crowd below what was known as General Order No. 3, with that order being the total emancipation of slaves.

Celebrating erupted among the last of the African Americans to learn they were now free.

And now, all these years later it is more than a little sickening that there are still some Americans who are hate filled moronic idiotic evil creeps who need to be removed from the planet.....

Juneteenth Next Week In Texas & Most Of The Rest Of America

One week from today, on June, 19, the Juneteenth holiday takes place. I had not heard of the Juneteenth holiday until I moved to Texas. Now, less than a decade, later Juneteenth is celebrated in 31 of the United States, including my old home state of Washington and all the other west coast states, including Alaska.

For those who do not know what Juneteenth is, like I didn't a decade ago, it commemorates the abolition of slavery in America.

Since Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day one might think that June 19 was the day Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It is not. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862, effective January 1, 1863.

In reality, the Emancipation Proclamation pretty much had no effect on those living in the areas under Confederate control.

What Juneteenth commemorates is June 19, 1865, that being the day that Union General Gordon Granger, along with 2,000 Federal troops, showed up in Galveston, Texas to take control of Texas and emancipate Texas slaves.

General Granger stood on the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa and read General Order #3.

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere."

The newly freed men and women erupted into happy celebrations on the streets of Galveston. The following June 19, Juneteenth celebrations happened all over Texas. The newly freed pooled their money to buy land for parks in which to hold their Juneteenth celebrations, including Mexia's Booker T. Washington Park, Austin's Emancipation Park and Houston's Emancipation Park.

It took well over a century for Juneteenth to spread to most of the rest of America.

In a week there will be a wide range of events, parades, street fairs, BBQs, block parties,with a lot of music and dancing.

Most Juneteenth events include a big feast that goes on all day in a park or other outdoor venue. It is usually a potluck type deal, with a lot of barbecue, greens, watermelon and pies. Along with the traditional red soda. And a lot of ice cream.

The original Juneteenth celebrants in Galveston feasted on fried chicken, watermelon and red soda. Hence the red soda tradition that continues to this day.

There are a several Juneteenth celebrations in Fort Worth. I don't know which one I'll be going to next Friday. I would think the celebrating will be especially happy this Juneteenth due to who is currently doing Abraham Lincoln's job.

Juneteenth

I'd never heard of Juneteenth til I moved to Texas. It's now an annual holiday in 29 states. Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas. In Texas it is called "Emancipation Day in Texas." At least that's what it says on my calendar. For more than a century Texas was the main location for Juneteenth celebrations.

I just got back here and saw what must be a big Juneteenth celebration setup, at least I assume that's what it is, in the open field next to my neighborhood Home Depot. I saw a Channel 5 TV crew set up in the Kroger parking lot across the street.

It looks like a big deal. Why was I not informed?

I've not actually ever attended a Juneteenth celebration. From 1870 til 1980 Texas pretty much celebrated Juneteenth alone. Since 1980 it became an official holiday in Texas. After that other states jumped on the Juneteenth bandwagon, including my own home state of Washington. So, now Washingtonians know what Juneteenth is. As do Oregon, California and Alaska.

So, Juneteenth is now a holiday on the entire west coast. Except for British Columbia. But that's in Canada. Canadians are always behind the curve.

This Juneteenth thing is a classic example of how Texas is always ahead of the rest of the nation. Well, sometimes.