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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration | ||||||
| 3 | commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States; and
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| 4 | WHEREAS, The mission of the State of Illinois Juneteenth | ||||||
| 5 | Committee reads: To promote and cultivate knowledge and | ||||||
| 6 | appreciation of African-American history and culture with a | ||||||
| 7 | focus on education and self-improvement; and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, It was on June 19, 1865, two-and-a-half years | ||||||
| 9 | after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, that | ||||||
| 10 | Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the | ||||||
| 11 | war had ended and that the enslaved were now free; and
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| 12 | WHEREAS, As freed slaves left plantations and moved to | ||||||
| 13 | reunite with family members in other states, they encountered a | ||||||
| 14 | new set of challenges as free men and women; and
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| 15 | WHEREAS, Recounting the memories of that great day in June | ||||||
| 16 | of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation and | ||||||
| 17 | relief from the growing pressures encountered in their new | ||||||
| 18 | homes; and
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| 19 | WHEREAS, The celebration of June 19th was coined | ||||||
| 20 | "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation and became a time | ||||||
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| 1 | for reassuring one another, for praying, and for gathering | ||||||
| 2 | family members; and
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| 3 | WHEREAS, A range of activities were provided for | ||||||
| 4 | entertainment at early Juneteenth celebrations, many of which | ||||||
| 5 | continue today; rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball are | ||||||
| 6 | just a few of the typical activities that may be held today; | ||||||
| 7 | and
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| 8 | WHEREAS, Juneteenth also focuses on education and | ||||||
| 9 | self-improvement; guest speakers are often brought in and | ||||||
| 10 | elders are called upon to recount the events of the past; | ||||||
| 11 | prayer services are often also a major part of the | ||||||
| 12 | celebrations; and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, Over the last few decades, Juneteenth has | ||||||
| 14 | continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from | ||||||
| 15 | communities and organizations throughout the country, all with | ||||||
| 16 | the mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation | ||||||
| 17 | of African-American history and culture; and
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| 18 | WHEREAS, Today, Juneteenth celebrates African-American | ||||||
| 19 | freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all | ||||||
| 20 | cultures; therefore, be it
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| 21 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
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| 1 | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 2 | we proclaim June 19, 2011 as Juneteenth Day in the State of | ||||||
| 3 | Illinois, in remembrance of the important events of June 19, | ||||||
| 4 | 1865, and encourage all citizens to learn about the important | ||||||
| 5 | contributions that African-Americans have made to our State, | ||||||
| 6 | and to the nation as a whole; and be it further
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| 7 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 8 | delivered to the State of Illinois Juneteenth Committee as a | ||||||
| 9 | symbol of our respect and esteem.
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