Senate Resolution No. 4434

BY: Senator HAMILTON

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
June 19, 2018, as Juneteenth Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest-known celebration of the ending of
slavery; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 19, 2018, as Juneteenth Day in
the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, One of General Granger's first orders was Order No. 3 which
was read aloud to the people of Texas and which stated: "The people of
Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the
Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an
absolute equity of rights and rights of property between masters and
former slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them
becomes that between employer and free laborer."; and

WHEREAS, Many of the newly-freed slaves stayed in their locations to
learn about the new employer/employee relationship between themselves
and their former masters, while others chose to reach family members in
other states, and still others chose to move to the Northern states; and

WHEREAS, Settling into new areas as free men and women brought on
new realities and challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent
status for Black people in America; and

WHEREAS, The celebration of Juneteenth allowed freed slaves and
their descendants to recount the memories of that great day in 1865 when
freedom was proclaimed, and also served as a release from the pressures
of settling into new territories; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth has been known by a variety of names, including
"Jun-Jun," "Freedom Day," "Emancipation Day" and "Emancipation
Celebration," but regardless of what the day is called, it is a day to
celebrate freedom; and

WHEREAS, A wide range of activities became traditional at Juneteenth
celebrations, including barbecuing, baseball, rodeos, fishing and
drinking strawberry soda; and

WHEREAS, While Juneteenth is a time for celebration, it is also a
time for reflection, education and self-improvement; celebration
participants listen to elders recount the past, attend prayer services,
and learn from educational speakers; and

WHEREAS, In some instances, Juneteenth participants were not
permitted to use public parks to hold the celebrations; activities
sometimes took place on church grounds or in rural areas until more
African Americans owned land and donated it for the festivities; one
such park is Booker T. Washington Park in Mexia, Texas; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, the State of Texas was the first state to
recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, through the efforts
of Al Edwards, an African American State Legislator; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 19, 2018, as
Juneteenth Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.