Juneteenth-how did enslaved people in Texas react to emancipation.

The Day of Jubilee

Sarah had been working in the cotton fields since sunrise, along with her husband Isaac and their two children, Sam and Lucy. They were owned by Mr. Jones, a harsh and cruel man who whipped them often and gave them little food or clothing. Sarah had heard rumors of a war between the North and the South, and of a proclamation by President Lincoln that freed all the slaves in the rebel states. But she did not dare to hope that it would ever reach Texas, where slavery seemed to be as strong as ever.

She was startled by the sound of a bugle, followed by shouts and cheers. She looked up and saw a group of men on horseback, wearing blue uniforms and carrying flags. They were Union soldiers, and they had come to Galveston. Sarah dropped her hoe and ran towards them, followed by Isaac and the children. She saw other slaves running from the fields, the houses, the barns. They all gathered around the soldiers, who dismounted and read a paper aloud.

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."1

Sarah could not believe her ears. She was free. They were all free. She felt a surge of joy and relief that made her want to cry and laugh at the same time. She hugged Isaac and kissed their children. She thanked God for this day of jubilee.

She looked around and saw other slaves celebrating their freedom. Some danced and sang, some prayed and praised, some shouted and clapped. Some hugged their families and friends, some packed their belongings and left, some stayed and waited for their wages. Some went to find their loved ones who had been sold away or run away.

Sarah decided to stay with Isaac and the children on Mr. Jones’s land for now. They had nowhere else to go, and they hoped that the Union soldiers would protect them from any harm. They also wanted to learn more about their rights and opportunities as free people.

Sarah knew that freedom would not be easy. She knew that they would face many challenges and struggles in their new life. But she also knew that they had each other, and that they had a chance to make their own choices and pursue their own dreams.

She smiled as she watched Sam and Lucy play with a flag that one of the soldiers had given them. It was red, white and blue, like the one that flew over the courthouse. It was a symbol of their freedom.

She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. It was Isaac.

“Are you happy, Sarah?” he asked.

“Yes, Isaac,” she said. “I’m happy.”

They kissed and held each other.

They were free.

June 19th, 1865. The day that changed everything for the enslaved people in Texas. The day that General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced that the Civil War was over and that all enslaved people were free.

For some, it was a moment of disbelief and shock. They had been living in bondage for so long that they could not imagine a life without it. They did not know what freedom meant or how to claim it. They wondered if it was a trick or a trap.

For others, it was a moment of joy and celebration. They had been waiting and praying for this day for years. They had heard rumors and whispers of emancipation from other states, but they did not know if they would ever see it in Texas. They hugged and kissed their families and friends, thanking God for his mercy.

For many, it was a moment of uncertainty and fear. They did not know what would happen next or where they would go. They did not trust their former masters or the soldiers who brought the news. They faced violence and discrimination from the white population who resented their freedom. They had to find work and shelter in a hostile world.

But for all, it was a moment of hope and possibility. They had a chance to start a new life, to pursue their dreams, to educate themselves and their children, to own land and property, to vote and participate in society. They had a chance to be human.

They called it Freedom Day, Juneteenth, Jubilee. They celebrated it every year with music, food, speeches, parades, and prayers. They passed it on to their descendants as a legacy of resilience and courage. They never forgot the day that freedom came to Texas.