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Come hear the soulful sounds of Karen Brown and her band at The Green Room as we celebrate Black Music Month. Karen Brown will usher in the soul and victorious celebration of African American historical holiday, Freedom Day!
Tickets: $15 advance | $20 door
Doors at 7 pm | performance at 7:30 pm
African Americans have a uniquely painful history with American Independence Day (July 4th). In the United States, the ideas of liberty and freedom ring in the hearts of African Americans but often feel conflicting with the historical and ongoing oppression of Black Americans since the country’s inception. Although many African Americans began celebrating “Emancipation Day” during the American Revolution, Juneteenth is special holiday for African Americans since it marks the first time that Black Americans were actually, legally “free.”
About Juneteenth:
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which was meant to legally free slaves. However, due to slow communication processes and the realities of such an emotive war, it took two years for the war to actually end, following Lincoln’s proclamation. Even once the war was officially concluded, many Texas slave owners refused to acknowledge the end of the war and slavery, seeking to continue their plantations (and free labor force) for as long as possible.
However, on June 19th, 1865, Union Soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, entered Galveston, TX and officially announced that ALL slaves were freed — thus, Juneteenth was born.
Juneteenth is a celebration of the actual emancipation of Black Americans from slavery. It is often celebrated with fish fries, dancing, and fellowship with other members of the diaspora. Unfortunately, despite its apparent historical significance, the holiday is still not nationally recognized. As a result, few Americans recognize the important holiday and many African Americans are not able to celebrate. However, other Black Americans take the day off to celebrate this historic day with family and friends.
