Chelsea, MA Unsorted, 17 Jun 2022

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From YouTube: Juneteenth Celebration reading with Candace Perez

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City of Chelsea, Candace Perez - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

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Hello, I'm Candace, Perez I'm, the director of diversity, Equity inclusion for the city of Chelsea and today I'll be reading to you, a story, opal Lee, and what it means to be free by Alice, Faye, Duncan.

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Great granddeer buddy called tell us a Juneteenth story. Opel Lee raised her face to the Sun as memories of yesteryear filled her vision.

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When she had been a Texas Bud like the children at her feet, granddaddy Zach told her Freedom stories on his wooden porch as opali remembered his words she lifted her hands and cheered. Juneteenth means freedom and now it's story. Time then openly began Once Upon, a blazing sun. Black bodies were brought and sold like cattle black men plowed the fields but were not allowed to own the land.

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Black women cook the food but were not allowed to Feast on roasts and ribs from the master's table. Black children cleaned the one-room School houses, but were not allowed to read or write.

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Earning and learning were against the law. Slavery was a thief.

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American slavery dragged on like a plague until January 1st 1863..

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That's when President Lincoln wielded courage and raised his feathered pen. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation with a mighty stroke. It proclaimed on the first day of January in the year of Our Lord 1863. All persons held as slaves shall be forever free, Glory, Glory, Glory Freedom was dazzling news like a bright Starry Night. However, Texas was big and many miles away from Mr Lincoln white Masters defied his words.

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Black bodies remained in bondage; they plowed they cooked they cleaned Freedom did not bring through Texas in 1863.

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It was toiling times in the Lone Star State for two years, five months and 18 more weary days. Then. Finally, Joy jumped up on Dancing feet in the Gulf town of Galveston, the year was 1865.. The day was June 19th Gordon Granger marched through Galveston with Union Army troops.

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The general raised his booming voice and spoke these righteous words. The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free.

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Danced in a circle, Freedom hope and joy, divine Juneteenth means it's Freedom time. Can you imagine the excitement singing filled the air happy tears rolled down like rain black families leaped through the cotton fields and played tambourines.

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It was a day of Jubilee perfect for Texas, barbecue, watermelon and sweet potato pie. Delicious delights. They had been been denied during servitude.

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Opaly told the children remember my words for safe keeping, remember what I say: Juneteenth is bigger than Texas singing or dancing. Bands, Juneteenth is freedom, Rising and freedom is for everyone. Juneteenth. Is you and me, as the children clapped and cheered, but he tugged her sleeve great grand there. He called what was Juneteenth like when you were a kid opal Lee unwrapped. Another story.

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Nixon whites lived separately when I was a child Jim Crow signs littered Old, Fort Worth. In every public place, black families were banned from Forest Park Zoo, except one day of the year on Juneteenth. We could picnic party and ride the ferris wheel, I hated that Sue I loved it too The Birdhouse was my favorite buddy groaned and shook his head the old days that don't sound good.

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And bad work together, like the sun and rain I spent good days on my Granddaddy's porch reading, poetry, books. His farm was my playground. I ran across the fields and climbed the tallest oak Glory Glory Glory, some memories are my chalk. Are chocolate sweet but some memories cut and Bruise? My saddest season started on Juneteenth day 1939.

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An angry mob with flaming sticks burned by family's brand new house, their broken minds and evil Hearts were so afraid of black progress. The police made no arrests, my family moved away, and yet the Embers burned that fire still lives. In me, I learned a big lesson that Juneteenth day freedom is a golden coin.

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Struggle makes it shine.

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And no matter how long it takes for freedom to stretch across the land, I will keep on teaching I will keep on reaching I will keep on walking. I will keep on talking. I will raise my voice on the Prairie and the Mountaintop until freedom rings.

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The children lifted up their hands in Praise, Freedom, hope and joy. Divine Juneteenth means it's Freedom time openly. Winked and chuckled I think now it's time for barbecue strawberry, cake and red Juneteenth punch, Glory, Glory Glory, but he cheered and waved his hands when he bounced up to leave. Opal Lee hugged him tightly then just like birds in Flight. All the children flocked into her arms.

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All police studied their shining faces. Black brown, bronze gold, white tan freckles.

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As the children dashed away, she marveled at the bright future, she rested against the blooming tree and whispered into the wind. Remember my words for safekeeping. Remember what I say: freedom is for everyone Juneteenth. Is you and me.

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I hope that you enjoyed today's reading.

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