Seventy years before the holiday became official, Five Points was celebrating Juneteenth. Here's why.
Colorado historian and multi-generational Denverite Terri Gentry recalls a lot of wonderful things about the annual Juneteenth celebration in Five Points. The music. The food. The parades and the marching bands and the drill teams."There's so much to it," she smiles."It's really about reclaiming culture. Making sure it's not forgotten.
"It was a move to impact the Civil War," Gentry explains,"a way to impact the economy of the South. But it only applied to the states that were trying to secede from the Union. So they still had slavery in states like Tennessee and Kentucky and Delaware and Missouri. It was more complex than many people realize. The Union Army was going into areas and effectively spreading the word that these people had their freedom." But that effort took time.
Perhaps because the Emancipation Proclamation was a military maneuver, we don't celebrate that as a date relating to freedom. Or the surrender at Appomattox, in April 1865. Instead, we celebrate June 19 of that year, because that's the day that General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas, with General Order Number 3."That's what declared that all people in Texas had been declared free," Gentry says.
"It was in 1866 that Schuyler Colfax — yes, the guy for whom Colfax Avenue was named — was Speaker of the House and helped push through the Civil Rights Act of 1866," she continues."President Johnson vetoed that, but Colfax was able to override the veto. I always like to remind folks about Schuyler Colfax and who he was. He was an abolitionist. This man fought for our freedoms.
That all changed again in 2012, when Norman Harris — a fifth-generation Denverite with strong roots in the Five Points community — formed the to bring back the full-on neighborhood event. Like Otha Rice before him, Harris wanted the whole neighborhood to get out and share the block with each other, laughing and eating and drinking and dancing.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
All the Juneteenth Events in DenverFive Points celebrated June 19 long before it became an official holiday.
Read more »
Denver voters may be asked to increase city's sales tax to help Denver HealthBrandon Richard is a reporter for Denver7 in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »
Denver to buy Denver Community Church building for migrant sheltering effortsThe city has been leasing the building in Athmar Park from the church but now plans to buy it for $4 million.
Read more »
Reader: Why Are People on a Denver Page Complaining About Denver?After ranking as the second-best place to live in 2020, the Mile High City fell to 99th last year. Now it's bounced back to 40th.
Read more »
Fingers crossed: Dulcich nearing return from foot injuryThe Denver Broncos great says first-round draft pick is a good fit in Denver.
Read more »
Justin Simmons finds peace with his offseason situationThe Denver Broncos great says first-round draft pick is a good fit in Denver.
Read more »