On New Year’s Eve 1862, African Americans gathered in secret to celebrate Watch Night, a tradition of prayer and reflection, as they awaited the Emancipation Proclamation and the promise of freedom.
Tag: Emancipation Proclamation
Posted inNational News
Martha Whiting-Goddard, Houston historian, speaks on early Juneteenth celebrations of 19th century
Juneteenth celebrations in the past included parades, speeches, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the legacy of Juneteenth can be kept alive through education and sharing the story of the Black community’s journey to freedom.
Posted inNational News
The historical roots of Juneteenth and its legacy today
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the day that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to declare the freedom of some 250,000 enslaved African Americans in the state, and is now a federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery and the freedom of African Americans.
Posted inReligion
What does Watch Night mean for Black Americans today? It dates back to the Emancipation Proclamation
The Associated Press undefined The tradition of Watch Night services in the United States dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, when many Black Americans gathered in churches and other venues, waiting for President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law, and thus free those still enslaved in the Confederacy. It’s still being observed […]
