“There are many theories as to why the Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t enforced in Texas. News traveled slowly back in those days — it took Confederate soldiers in western Texas more than two months to hear that Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox. Still, some have struggled to explain the 30-month gap between Lincoln’s proclamation and the enslaved people’s freedom, leading to speculation that some Texans suppressed the announcement. Other theories include that the original messenger was murdered to prevent the information from being relayed or that the federal government purposely delayed the announcement to Texas to get one more cotton harvest out of the enslaved workers. But the real reason is probably that Lincoln’s proclamation simply wasn’t enforceable in the rebel states before the end of the war.” (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth)

Learn more at LLCC’s upcoming Juneteenth activities, including a book read of “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed and a celebration on June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons. Get more details.

June 17-19 is 217 Black Restaurant Weekend. Now in its third year, the event aims to counter economic disparity within black-owned businesses with fun and interactive solutions that engage, excite and ignite a deeper understanding and appreciation of Springfield’s food culture. LLCC is sponsoring Jerk Shop Go, located in downtown Springfield.

Enslaved people had already been emancipated; they just didn’t know it. “The June 19 announcement [about the end of slavery] came more than two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. So technically, from the Union’s perspective, the 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were already free — but none of them were aware of it, and no one was in a rush to inform them.” (Source: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth)

Learn more by visiting the LLCC Juneteenth Guide at https://library.llcc.edu/juneteenth.

LLCC’s upcoming Juneteenth activities include a celebration on June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in A. Lincoln Commons and a book read of “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed. Get more details.

Historical spotlight

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, declaring that all slaves in states in rebellion against the Union would be forever free as of Jan. 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation freed 3.1 million slaves in 11 Confederate states but didn’t apply to border slave states like Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri.

The June 19 announcement about the end of slavery came later in 1865. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Liberation Day.

LLCC hosting Juneteenth celebration

LLCC is celebrating Juneteenth on June 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with various events in A. Lincoln Commons on the LLCC-Springfield campus. This year’s observance is themed “Know Your History” and aims to increase knowledge about Juneteenth 1865.

The event is open to the public and will feature a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, a Juneteenth display, free haircuts provided by the University of Spa and Cosmetology Arts, music provided by D.J. Yinka and food from Gertrude’s Taste of Heaven by Lisa Johnson.

The college is also hosting a book read of “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed. Roundtable discussions will be held via Zoom on June 15, 22 and 29 at 1 p.m.

Leading up to the Juneteenth celebration, look for more historical spotlights in LincIn as well as on the Lincoln Landing app and on LLCC’s Facebook page.