For attendees at Saturday性视界传媒檚 Juneteenth parade in Longview, learning about the storied Black holiday is a family tradition 性视界传媒 one they intend to pass on. It性视界传媒檚 also a day to promote unity among all people regardless of race.
East Texans gathered along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to see classic cars, jacked-up trucks and four-wheelers, dance troops and more.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, U.S. soldiers went to Galveston to enforce the abolition of slavery 性视界传媒 more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
The day became a federal holiday in 2021.
Alton Hawkins, a retired teacher, joined his son and grandchildren as they watched the parade roll toward the Broughton Recreation Center. Hawkins picked up his grandson, 1-year-old Kaysen, who was participating in his first Juneteenth celebration.
Hawkins still had a lesson to teach his family: 性视界传媒淲hat it really means to respect their culture.性视界传媒
Hawkins性视界传媒 parents were field workers who didn性视界传媒檛 even have eighth-grade educations, but they wanted their children to have better lives, he said. He and other family members since then have attained college educations and embarked on careers as educators, engineers, computer technicians and more, he said.
性视界传媒淎ll the things that people before us have done have paved the way for all of us to do the things we do right now,性视界传媒 Hawkins said.
His son, Victor, sat beneath the shade of an umbrella next to his children. The parade teaches his children that Black history can be celebrated year-round 性视界传媒 not just during Black History Month in February.
It also preserves history, he said.
性视界传媒淓very day, you hear about things being forgotten or things being omitted,性视界传媒 Hawkins said. 性视界传媒淭hings like this is a good step to keep things from being forgotten.性视界传媒
Seated nearby, Vanya Roberts said she was glad to celebrate with her community what Juneteenth means: 性视界传媒淔reedom.性视界传媒
性视界传媒淚t means a lot to me because we don性视界传媒檛 have a lot that is celebrated for our Black culture,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淲e have to find places to put the celebration in what our ancestors went through and come through.性视界传媒
She性视界传媒檚 celebrated the holiday for most of her life, and the main message of the day is unity: 性视界传媒淛ust being able to come together in peace and love and keeping God in it,性视界传媒 she said.
Her niece, Denver Thomas, learned about the holiday from her mother. She now does the same thing as a mother herself, she said.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 OK to celebrate Independence Day where we were supposed to be free,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淏ut we were not technically free at that time. And that性视界传媒檚 the whole meaning of Juneteenth.性视界传媒
The holiday isn性视界传媒檛 solely for Black Americans, she said.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 for everybody just to celebrate freedom for everybody,性视界传媒 she said.
Christina Choice性视界传媒檚 daughter was in the Baby Dolls Dance Club, which busted some moves during the parade. The parade is a family tradition.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 just not about Black people. It性视界传媒檚 about everybody coming together, just trying to be in unity,性视界传媒 she said.
Her cousin, Bri性视界传媒橝nna Wallace, said the day also helps people remember the pain and suffering Black Americans have endured.
Wallace wants her niece, 6-year-old Genelle Skipper, to know more about Black culture. Skipper stood beside her as they watched the parade floats stroll by.
性视界传媒淪he doesn性视界传媒檛 understand yet,性视界传媒 Wallace said. 性视界传媒淏ut today, she性视界传媒檒l get a better grip of understanding of it.性视界传媒
