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1240 AM RADIO
Celebrating 21 Years Of Successful Broadcasting
PRESENTS
THE TWENTIETH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH NATIONAL DAY OF FREEDOM
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery and the term comes from the combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth". On January 31, 1865, Congress passed the 13 th Amendment abolishing slavery. It was not until June of the same year that the message of freedom reached Texas slaves after the arrival of Union Major General Gordon Granger in Galveston to declare U.S. sovereignty over the state and officially notified it's 250,000 slaves that they were free. That was 30 months after President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation. A spontaneous celebration erupted on that day in Texas, June 19 th 1865, and this is the origin of what we celebrate as our national day of freedom.
Calling this observance "Juneteenth" National Day Of Freedom is done to use the already familiar title "Juneteenth" as a reference and "freedom" is used to describe the motive for the celebration as it relates to when all Africans in America gained their legal right to freedom. Juneteenth is about American history. The nation declared its independence on July 4 th, 1776, and the last slaves were freed on June 19 th, 1865. We need to acknowledge both days thereby giving the word "freedom" more relevance on a national scale than "emancipation".
WMGJ will host the only Gadsden celebration of National Day Of Freedom on Saturday, June 10 th and Sunday, June 11 th, 2006 at Bud Hughley Park in East Gadsden. Juneteenth is a day when we look back on a time when everyday Americans faced the most daunting challenges and the slimmest odds and still persevered. We therefore invite people of all races, nationalities and religions to join in the celebration and truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. There will be plenty of good food and drinks, fun for the kids, arts and crafts, games, gospel groups, bands and soloists. This is a free admission, but please, no alcoholic beverages.
With sincere pride and love, I would like to thank each of you for your support of this effort. Somewhere in the Scripture it says that people who continue to celebrate their culture thrive. That’s why it is important to continue to teach our children about their history so they won't lose it. With the power of your collective thought we can move mountains, so let us not sink in despair over the obstacles that stand I our path. Instead, let's celebrate and communicate our needs, share our experiences and leverage our strengths. The spirit of Juneteenth is alive and well in each of us!
Floyd L. Donald
President and General Manager,
WMGJ Radio
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