HOUSTON — Juneteenth celebrations carried on despite the rain, with multiple events happening across the Houston area. Residents took the time to reflect on this important history rooted in Texas.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee played a pivotal role in making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Many marked the day with art, church and community.
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Inside the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was a gathering to celebrate freedom. In the days after slavery, it was a sanctuary for those recently emancipated.
"The lack of freedom was a poison. It was an absolute poison that our society was experiencing," said Jackson Lee.
Today, its history carries the work forward.
“She fought tirelessly in Congress to ensure our Juneteenth was recognized nationally and also lead sponsor of the legislation that President Biden signed," said Stephen Benjamin, senior advisor to President Joe Biden.
Congresswoman Lee spoke to visitors by phone, illustrating the challenges of making this day federally recognized.
"It took 13 years. I had to introduce a resolution every single year to say that there should be a federal holiday," Jackson Lee said.
The shared history of struggle was the backdrop at the Holocaust museum as local stakeholders and leaders marked the occasion, touring the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection.
The Kinsey African American Art and History Collection is an exhibition celebrating Black American contributions through, painting, sculpture books and letters.
"We have a shared history of struggle. That we have a shared history of helping on another, and if we forget to share, that if we forget to recognize that humanity that we all have in common, then we might give into the hate," said Harris County Judge Lina Hildago.
In Galveston is where the last of the enslaved, two years after emancipation, heard this proclamation from Union Army General Gordon Granger:
"June 19, 1865. The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with the proclamation from the executive of the United States all slaves are free."
Congresswoman Jackson Lee announced another step in recognizing Juneteenth. She plans to bring back a request to develop a Juneteenth commission.