EDITORIAL
From The Publisher’s Desk...
ISN’T JUNETEENTH (THE ENDING OF SLAVERY) AS A DAY OF
OBSERVANCE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS EARTH DAY?
OPEN LETTER TO LEGISLATORS
ELECTED TO REPRESENT DURHAM, NC
TO:
Sen. Floyd McKissick
Sen. Mike Woodard
Sen. Valerie Foushee
Rep. H.M. “Mickey” Michaux
Rep. Larry Hall
Rep. Paul Luebke
150th anniversary of the Civil War, and in recognition of Juneteenth, June 19, the date many
African-Americans observe as when the last of the enslaved in 1865 learned they were free,
there will be a tour of North Carolina’s copy of the 13th Amendment for limited engagements
in June led by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (NCDCR).”
If the current Governor is recognizing Juneteenth then shouldn’t the entire state? I realize
there are a lot of issues to discuss in this NC General Assembly short session. But I believe
you should strike while the iron is hot on this subject.
Greetings:
As the North Carolina State Juneteenth Director
appointed by the National Juneteenth Foundation, I would
like to request amending the NC Juneteenth legislation
(see right) to delete the following phrase:
In advance of the 2015 sesquicentennial (150th)
anniversary of the ending of the American Civil War, I
would like us to work together to change the wording in
this legislation and have Juneteenth officially recognized
and celebrated in NC, even if not recognized nationally
yet. As an elected official representing Durham, I am of
strong opinion that you must lead the charge to make
this change.
SECTION 1: "When Juneteenth National Freedom Day
or a substantially similar holiday becomes a nationally
recognized holiday,…
FYI: As of June 2013, 42 U.S. states and the District of
Columbia have recognized Juneteenth as either a state
holiday or special day of observance.
It should simply read..."The General Assembly shall
recognize the nineteenth day of June each year as
Juneteenth National Freedom Day, to commemorate the
end of slavery in the United States and to demonstrate
racial reconciliation and healing from the legacy of
slavery."
Thanks for your consideration, and in advance, for all
your efforts to successfully make this change to the
Juneteenth legislation. Please come out and celebrate
Juneteenth with us!
________________________________________
As you know, what is now the City and County of Durham,
North Carolina played a major role in the ending of the
American Civil War. According to CivilWarDurham.com,
"there may be more famous places [than Durham], but
few with a broader involvement in so many pivotal areas.
In the end, Durham was the site of fierce fighting and
the pivotal surrender at Bennett Place, now considered
by many to have effectively ended the Civil War 20 days
after Lee surrendered only his own army at Appomattox.
Returning home to Durham, veterans worked alongside
freed blacks to forge national enterprises manufacturing
textiles and tobacco, excelling in finance and leveraging a
global role today in education, healthcare, and research."
Recently Governor Pat McCrory’s office announced the Juneteenth Tour (see page 32) of
the 13TH Amendment. The press release reads in part, “As part of the observance of the
SAVE THE DATE: 10th Annual NC Juneteenth
Celebration, June 21, 2014, Downtown Durham, 1:00
PM – 10:00 PM…Food, Vendors, Kid’s Zone, Health
Fair, Exhibitors, Performances by national recording
artists Chubb Rock, Sunshine Anderson, Sensational
Nightingales, Sybil, Jazz Sax