Military + Juneteenth
The Army’s Role in Race Relations Skyrocketed with Juneteenth
A Reflection on Genuineness vs. Perception in the Utilization of Military Force For Civil and Human Rights
The Army played a role in the Juneteenth holiday, and that is without a doubt. Upon General Gordon Granger’s assumption of command of the Department of Texas on June 10, 1865, he immediately declared that the institution of slavery was dead, just nine days later, on June 19th, upon his arrival to Galveston, Texas. That’s a historical event that changed how we live today. Though the Army stood on the right side of history, it would be very disingenuous to say that it was done genuinely with the U.S. government and its leaders providing full support. When you start to peel the onion back and read the fine print, you will notice that the slaves were freed by Granger in Texas, but under austere conditions and stipulations. This is the case everywhere, but let’s focus on the Army’s role in this instance in particular. In a nutshell, Granger rode throughout Texas with his decree and counseled the newly freed slaves with these major points:
- Don’t expect welfare assistance
- Seek employment, in fact, strike a deal with your old master for a wage