LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. upon the
occasion of hosting the 34th Consecutive Juneteenth Festival to be held
June 6-14, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to call attention to
those events which serve to enhance the cultural enrichment of the State
of New York and preserve the heritage of African Americans; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting the 34th
Consecutive Juneteenth Festival to be held June 6-14, 2009; the parade
will be held Saturday, June 13, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The oldest-known celebration of the ending of slavery, June-
teenth began on June 19, 1865, the date Union soldiers under the command
of Major General George Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the
news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were free; and
WHEREAS, The former slaves of Galveston were quick to establish what
was to become a tradition for African American communities across the
United States; on the evening of June 19, 1865, thousands flooded the
streets of Galveston, rejoicing in the newly-announced freedom; the
sweet smell of barbecue smoke filled the air as dancing feet pounded the
dirt roads and harmonic voices sang spirituals; and
WHEREAS, In the immediate years to follow, Galveston and other South-
ern cities began to structure Juneteenth activities; normally there was
food, dance and song, but Juneteenth provided the opportunity to express
to young and old alike the fact that African Americans are a proud
people with past, present and future contributions to American society;
religious organizations were host to revivals; civic, political, busi-
ness and social organizations distributed information and established
educational and recreational competitions; and
WHEREAS, As African Americans from Texas and other parts of the South
began to migrate to the North, East and West, they took with them the
tradition of Juneteenth, spreading the word that African American Free-
dom has roots in the celebration of Juneteenth; and
WHEREAS, The Juneteenth Festival of Buffalo was started in 1976 by
B.U.I.L.D., a community-based organization, as a culturally relevant
alternative to the country's Bicentennial Celebration; and
WHEREAS, The group blocked off part of Jefferson Avenue -- the "Main
Street" of Buffalo's Black community -- for a weekend celebration;
murals were painted and vendors set up booths to sell ethnic foods and
wares -- entertainment and festivity were abundant; and
WHEREAS, After several years, the Juneteenth Festival outgrew Jeffer-
son Avenue; it is now held in Martin Luther King Jr. Park at the inter-
section of Best Street and Fillmore Avenue; in 2000, the Juneteenth
Festival was changed to Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. to reflect its
broader mission; and
WHEREAS, Events which celebrate ethnic diversity contribute to
fulfilling our Nation's great legacy of equality and opportunity for all
which strengthens the fabric of the communities of New York State; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting the
34th Consecutive Juneteenth Festival to be held June 6-14, 2009; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Juneteenth of Buffalo, Inc. Headquarters, 1517 Genesee
Street, Buffalo, New York 14205.