June is always Juneteenth

Martha and Pinkie Yates in a buggy decorated for the annual Juneteenth celebration in front 319 Robin St. in the Fourth Ward (c.1895-1905). (Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library)

History plays a huge part in my day-to-day thoughts. Every June, for me, it's Juneteenth and this year after over twenty years of research, I know the names of some of my enslaved ancestors.

​While my grandmother passed away only a couple of years ago, I am just learning of this slave family history through my research. Although she told me several other family history stories, the main one she told was of being related to George Washington and Robert E Lee. I remember asking her how she was related to them and she'd say she didn't know but from where she came from down in the country, mostly everyone was related to them.

​I'm still as bewildered as any other day with the notion of being related to two of the most iconic characters in American history. I remember saying to myself, 'oh boy!', shaking my head, wondering why my Black grandmother, even though the kids asked me if she were white, found pride being related to iconic slave owners. Her voice was similar to mine, soft and whispery, and she didn't have any enthusiasm in her statement but all the same, I heard her loud and unclear! And I have been researching ever since!

From my research task list, I am reviewing family history and genealogy notes on my 2nd great grandmother born in June 1861, and preparing an outline to write her life story.

Happy birthday dear 2nd great grandmother!

Louise Taylor Thompson, my 2rd great grandmother. Photo: My Personal Collection. ©2018

My 2rd great grandmother, in the photo above, was born into slavery in June 1861 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. After becoming widowed, she married her 2nd husband, John Thompson, my 2nd great grandfather. While researching at the National Archives in 2016, I came across a census record that included her mother, Mary Taylor. Further research that day led me to an obituary that held their slave owners name. Since childhood, I knew of them, my grandmother had this picture hanging in the living room and then over her bed throughout her life. I would ask her if she remembered the sound of her voice, her face, or the way she felt. She would say, 'of course I remember my grandmother, she lived with us.' Any other details about her life or death, she'd say she didn't know or remember.

Some of what I now know:

• the photo is from the 1880s. Her hairstyle was the fashion of the time, a short frizzy bang. The neckline and collar pin indicates the late Victorian Era fashion, the clothing of each social class was different. The upper class wore fancy and extravagant clothing,
• she was born into slavery in June 1861, Westmoreland County, Virginia.
• her mother, my 3rd great grandmother, Mary Taylor was enslaved too and worked in several area households as a servant after emancipation.
• she had a large extended family in the area, the Taylor's.
• the Taylor family church and cemetery is the Shiloh Baptist Church in Montross, Virginia.
• she was pregnant when she first became widowed. With her second husband, my 2nd great grandfather, she purchased land in Montross from a cousin, to build their home and farm during the late 1890s. I saw her mark and his signature in the deed book in the Montross courthouse. My grandmother was born in this same house and grew up on the farm.
• by 1920, she was widowed and still owned the farm without a mortgage, as well as 1930.

These are some of the key facts of her life revealed from multiple public records, family history and building the family tree. Looking at public records of extended families and neighbors, called cluster researching, I was able to connect many dots. Although, she was born over 157 years ago, I feel close to her through my grandmother and even more from researching her life. I feel like I need to know her story as do my children and grandchildren. Over 100 years ago she purchased land with her husband and ran a farm for several decades in Montross, Virginia, with over 20 years doing so as a Black widow. To me, her life was remarkable and is incredibly inspiring.

I'm excited to share my family history research and look forward to connecting with other family history enthusiasts, this post is an excerpt from my documentary film in production.

Family Names: Taylor, Thompson
Location: Montross, Virginia Westmoreland County
Circa: 1860s -1940s

​Juneteenth

​Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, is a predominantly African American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas, and more generally the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans throughout the former Confederacy of the southern United States. Its name is a portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth", the date of its celebration. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in forty-five states.

Today it is observed primarily in local celebrations.3 Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and reading of works by noted African-American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Celebrations may include people , rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, park parties, historical reenactments, or Miss Juneteenth contests.

Since the 1980s and 1990s, the holiday has been more widely celebrated among African-American communities. In 1996 the first legislation to recognize "Juneteenth Independence Day" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.J. Res. 195, sponsored by Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI). In 1997 Congress recognized the day through Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 56. In 2013 the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 175, acknowledging Lula Briggs Galloway (late president of the National Association of Juneteenth Lineage) who "successfully worked to bring national recognition to Juneteenth Independence Day", and the continued leadership of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. In 2018 Apple added Juneteenth to its calendars in iOS under official US holidays.

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What does the month of June bring to memory for you? Do you attend or participate in Juneteenth celebrations?

Please share in comments!