Juneteenth a time to celebrate freedom

“The people are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights.”

— By order of U.S. Army Maj. Gen.

Gordon Granger, Galveston, June 19, 1865.

Union Gen. Granger did not hedge his words.

In General Orders No. 2, delivered from a Galveston doorstep two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Granger did not simply free Texas slaves.

He went further. Just in case anyone in Texas was unclear what “free” meant, the Union commander ordered “absolute equality.”

One hundred fifty-two years later, we still struggle to achieve that goal.

As Texans observe the day when freedom and liberty finally came to all America, we must also remember that much work remains.

Fort Worth Juneteenth weekend events begin Friday and continue with a Saturday parade to Tarrant County College South Campus. Arlington, Denton, Mansfield and other cities will host their own celebrations.

The Fourth of July is our national day of American freedom. But June 19 is the day freedom finally extended to all Americans.

This story was originally published June 15, 2017 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Juneteenth a time to celebrate freedom."