February 7th, 2025 – EMANICIPATION: The Promise We Seek, Part 1 “The First Celebrations of Juneteenth and How It Has Been Used to Organize for Voting Rights” #VRABlackHistory #WeWillToo
U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
We hope you enjoy our #VRABlackHistory Series 2025 with the theme
“Facing Extremism: How Our Ancestors Successfully Fought For Our Rights and #WeWillToo”
From the Transformative Justice Coalition and the Voting Rights Alliance
Please note, if you’d like to opt out from only the upcoming daily Black History Month Voting Rights Alliance #VRABlackHistory series, please email carnwine@tjcoalition.org. Unsubscribing at the bottom of this email unsubscribes you to all Transformers, not just from this special February Series.
Reporting by: Caitlyn Arnwine (formerly Caitlyn Cobb). This article was written in 2025 with a complete source list at the bottom. Sources are also cited throughout the article.
Today, February 7th, 2025, we are celebrating emancipation by examining Juneteenth and how it’s been used to mobilize voters and celebrate freedom. This is Part 1 of the 3-part exploration of emancipation and what work still needs to be done to fulfill its promise. This mini-series is a part of the 2025 #VRABlackHistory #WeWillToo Series. Today’s story highlights Laura Smalley; The Colored Conventions; G.T. Ruby from Texas and P.B.S. Pinchback and James H. Ingraham both from Louisiana; George T. Downing and John Sella Martin; R. J. Evans; Opal Lee; and, Sam Collins III and explores the first Juneteenth; how Juneteenth has been celebrated and used to mobilize voters; why that was and still is necessary work today; and, the stories behind Juneteenth becoming a federal Holiday.
