June 13, 2021
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 26, Issue 21
who police the police? “Addressing Current & Historical Realties Affecting Our Community”
FATHER OF JUNETEENTH By: Roy Douglas Malonson
Some things are long overdue, however, slowly but surely, it appears we are starting to turn a page in America. Juneteenth, a day many of us in Texas are more than familiar with, is starting to gain more attention across America. This year, as the day approaches, cries for social justice and forward movement for African Americans are starting to be heard, even though we still have a long way to go. We just celebrated the grim 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre and the racially-motivated burning of Black Wall Street and President Joe Biden has recognized it as one of the worst atrocities against our people. Keep in mind, however, that Tulsa barely scratched the surface of the many (hidden from history) Black massacres in this country. So, as we celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, Emancipation Day, and America’s
Second Independence Day, let’s explore the history of what is now the longestrunning African American holiday. Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. The order had established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” but in reality, the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people. The proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas Juneteenth cont’d page 2
By: AANI Staff
Hon. Albert Ely Edwards is the pioneer who fought and introduced the bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday. The former state representative, known as “The Father of Juneteenth,” died last year at the age of 83. The former Democratic legislator served south Houston’s House District 146 from 1979 to 2007, and again from 2009 to 2011. Per his bio on Historymakers.org, Edwards was born in Houston on March 19, 1937. He was the sixth out of sixteen children born to Reverend E. L. Edwards, Sr. and Josephine Radford Edwards. He graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School and attended Texas Southern University, earning his B.A. degree in 1966. At the age of 41, Edwards entered politics and was elected to the Texas State Legislature from Houston’s House DisEdwards cont’d page 3 trict 146. His first
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June 13, 2021
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GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
The Tyranny of White Privilege America is experiencing the bold and brazen tyranny of the GOP in its quest to maintain an ungodly system of “White Privilege” within a social democracy. Dictatorship and democracy are just like oil and water, and emulsion, they do not mix. Tyranny will exist when an individual or individuals will do anything for power, privilege and institutional authority over others. Moreover, this approach to democratic governance engenders polarization, lack of trust, a den of liars, and most all, a den of thieves. In fact, the GOP is the technique of the devil, lying. Of course, they will always be individuals who are willing to believe lies. This is a truism and an “ism”. All “isms” are schisms and schisms divide. Therefore, convince a fool against his will, and you leave him a fool still. Republicans appear to be exceptional fools, because
the GOP is using democracy to undermine democracy. Thus, the GOP is practicing neofascism, not democratic governance conservatism. Not since the 1860’s has America had a major political party espouse antidemocratic principles. Moreover, when you have a major political party practice and espouse ungodly “groupthink” invariably you will have governmental corruption, and societal chaos. All great nationstates have fallen from within; not from without, because of power, pleasure, privilege, and America is not an exception. America, just like all other nationstates is referenced in the feminine gender, and therefore: “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1 Timothy 5: 6). America is in a very precarious predicament, because some Americans desire to exclude other Americans based upon skincolor. This is a recipe for what Rome experienced at the hands of Nero an ungodly statistical mind, the burning of Rome while he played on his harp. If this sounds like President Trump and his declaration of “Make America Great Again” when America has always been blessed by God: just say AMEN!
America, we cannot afford the luxury of living in the darkness of lies, lies and damn lies. We must bring the darkness of lies to the light, because: “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” Christian Right Evangelicals cease embracing false doctrine (Trumpism), because: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” America, we have four years of ungodly Presidential evidence that: “When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.” (Proverbs 26: 25). This is the TRUTH, the whole TRUTH, nothing but the TRUTH. President Lincoln said it best: “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Trump has White Privilege oriented groups fooled with “The Big White Lie.” White Supremacists desire to be fooled. Foolishness confirms their reason for being, because fools make a mockery of sin! --AANI
Juneteenth cont’d already under Union control. Did you know? Galveston is the birthplace of Juneteenth? After the war came to a close in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone— in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment. The year following 1865, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19. In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Today,
47 states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, while efforts to make it a national holiday have so far stalled in Congress. And this month, after more than 150 years, the city of Galveston has finally made Juneteenth an official city holiday. Mayor Craig Brown said this acknowledgment is long overdue, and of course, we agree. Making it official means non-emergency city offices will be closed and city government employees will get a paid day off, but of course, it means more than that. It is a nod to the countless people who fought for years to make the historic day recognized. The late Hon. Albert Ely Edwards is affectionately known as the “Father of Juneteenth.” The former state representative, who died in April 2020 at the age of 83, introduced the bill that helped make Juneteenth a state holiday. The bill passed through the Texas Legislature in 1979 and was officially made a state holiday on January 1, 1980. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is still trying to make it a national holiday. -AANI
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Edwards cont’d major goal was to ensure the establishment of a holiday that recognized the emancipation of slavery. In 1979, legislation recognizing Juneteenth Day passed the Texas State Legislature and was signed into law. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday in 14 states of the United States. Celebrated on June 19th, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. While serving in the legislature, Edwards also founded his own real estate company. Though deeply involved with local issues, Edwards remained active in many issues outside the Texas State Legislature. In 1983, Edwards was appointed as a member of the board of Operation PUSH. Edwards also served as the Texas State Direc-
tor of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988. In 1986, Edwards also founded Operation Justus, a community faith-based organization that serves as a referral service for persons with social problems and concerns. Edwards was also arrested in Houston and went to jail for peacefully demonstrating against apartheid in South Africa in 1987. Edwards left the Texas legislature in 2007 after 28 years of serving the people of District 146. As a veteran member of the Texas Legislature, Edwards served on three influential committees. He was the Chairman of the Rules and Resolutions Committee, Chairman of Budget and Oversight of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Appropriations Committee. - AANI
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