The History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth is one of America's oldest celebrations but has only recently become a federal holiday. Richard Fleming will share his family's history of enslavement before and after the Emancipation Proclamation. He will also discuss the events that led to the celebration of Juneteenth in Texas and beyond, the importance of the holiday, and how it can be used to celebrate freedom for all. 

Richard’s family has a rich history in North Texas. Richard’s third great grandfather and grandmother Elijah & Margaret Dawson were slaves 85 miles southeast of Dallas in Wortham and Kirvin, Texas, located in Freestone and Limestone Counties. On “Freedom’s Eve,” the eve of January 1, 1863, enslaved people in Confederate states were declared legally free. But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, for Elijah Dawson and his wife Margaret when General Granger and some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state of Texas were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas.

Richard Fleming is the CEO & founder of State Tax Group, LLC. State Tax Group, LLC is an award-winning boutique multi- state and local sales tax advisory and consulting services firm located in Dallas since 2005.