July 6, 2025 • 62 mins
Freedom delayed is still freedom worth celebrating. Jazzy Poetic: The Juneteenth Experience takes listeners on a soul-stirring journey through music, poetry, and storytelling to explore the profound significance of June 19, 1865—the day when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Bhakti Larry Hough and the Bhakti Project masterfully weave together jazz melodies, African drumming, and powerful spoken word to illuminate this pivotal moment in American history when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with 2,000 troops to enforce freedom. Through original compositions and freedom songs like "Oh Freedom" and "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around," the performance captures both the joy of liberation and the bitter realization that freedom had been deliberately withheld from those enslaved in Texas.
The cultural and historical significance of Juneteenth unfolds through stories of the first celebrations in 1866, initially called "Jubilee Day," held in churches and near water since public spaces remained segregated. We learn how Texas formally recognized the holiday in 1979, and how the tireless advocacy of Opal Lee—who at 89 years old walked from Fort Worth to Washington DC—contributed to Juneteenth finally becoming a federal holiday in 2021 after the racial reckoning following George Floyd's murder. Beyond American shores, we discover connections to celebrations in Mexico among descendants of Black Seminoles.
As the final notes of "We Will Be Alright" remind us, the struggle for true freedom continues, but so does the resilience and determination that have sustained Black Americans through generations. Listen now to experience the power of cultural preservation through art and understand why Juneteenth represents not just a historical milestone but an ongoing commitment to justice, liberation, and hope.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, good evening everyone.
I'd like to extend a warmwelcome on behalf of Francis
Marion University and ourpresident, fred.
Carter the African Americanfaculty and staff coalition, the
African American Studies andUniversity Studies slavery
initiative.
We welcome you to an evening of.
(00:21):
Jazzy Poetic, the JuneteenthExperience by Bhakti Larry Hoof
and the Bhakti Project.
Bhakti Larry Hoof is a dynamicperforming and teaching artist,
cultural preservationist andmodern-day griot as president
and artist in residence of NewWorld Artists in Hartsville,
(00:45):
south Carolina.
He uses music, poetry,storytelling and percussion to
honor and uplift African andgospel musician Hough has
inspired audiences across thestate through educational
(01:09):
residencies, public performancesand cultural programming.
His work bridges generations,inviting communities to connect
deeply with heritage, healingand the power of arts.
Ladies and gentlemen, pleasegive an enthusiastic
no-transcript.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I have known rivers as ancient as the world and as
old as the flow of human bloodand human veins.
My soul has grown deep like therivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates whendonals were young.
I built my hut in the Congo.
(05:12):
When I lowed me to sleep, Ilooked upon the Nile and raised
the pyramids above it, and Iheard the singing of the
Mississippi when Amy Blinkenwent down to New Orleans, and
I've seen its muddy bosom growall golden in the sunset.
I've known rivers, ancient,deep like the rivers, as likes
(05:57):
the views the negro speaks ofrivers, the backdrop of John
Coltrane's Love Supreme and goodevening.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Happy Juneteenth.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Happy Freedom Day, emancipation Day, such an
important day in the history ofAmerica.
And this is Jazzy Poetic, theJuneteenth Experience.
(06:53):
Thank you for the introduction.
Jazzy Poetic is a performanceseries that takes a chapter, a
topic of African Americanhistory and culture and
illuminates and celebrates itthrough jazz, other types of
music, poetry, african drummingand, of course, storytelling.
(07:19):
The day was no-transcript.
(08:12):
All slaves in Texas are nowfree.
The nation had been at war withitself for the previous four
(08:40):
years, after 13 southern statesseceded from the Union and on
the federal installation of FortSumter in the Charleston Park
starting the Civil War.
But now the war was over.
In 1865, confederate CommanderRobert E Lee had surrendered at
(09:07):
Appomattox and now theemancipation process could
proceed.
It had started in.
January 1863 with the signing ofthe Emancipation Proclamation
by President Abraham Lincoln.
But it only started the process.
(09:31):
The Emancipation Proclamationdid not free all enslaved people
.
It only freed the enslavedpeople in the Confederate States
, in the Confederate States.
(09:56):
So there were many people stillenslaved after January 1863.
The Emancipation process wasslow and inconsistent, and how
well it went generally dependedupon the presence of Union
troops to be present to enforceemancipation.
Because emancipation was notpopular among the slave owners,
(10:21):
they they resisted, and so veryoften they simply did not tell
the people they held captivethat they had been freed.
So that's how we explain howthe word of freedom did not
(10:47):
reach Texas until two and a halfyears after the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation.
And Granger, the Union General,was there in Texas with 2,000
troops in order to enforce itthere.
Juneteenth is a very, veryimportant historical moment and
(11:13):
we certainly should celebrate it.
But it was a milestone on theway to ultimate freedom.
It did not just like theEmancipation Proclamation did
not.
It did not free everybody,because many people remained
(11:35):
enslaved in Texas afterJuneteenth and also in what they
called the border statesKentucky and Delaware.
It wasn't until December of1865 that all enslaved people
(11:56):
were freed with the ratificationof the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution, but still therewas celebration, dancing,
playing the drums and, of course, singing singing freedom songs.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Like old freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom,
freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom.
Over me and before I'm asleep,I and go home to my love and be
(13:37):
free.
They don't let nobody turn mearound, turn me around, turn me
around.
They don't let nobody turn mearound, ain't gonna let nobody
(14:00):
Turn me around.
I keep on talking, keep ontalking.
(14:29):
Watching up the freedom land,I'm gonna march it, march it
marchin' down Freedom's Road.
Ain't nobody gonna stop me.
Ain't nobody gonna stop meMarching down Freedom's Road.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It'll only be as plain as the nose on your face.
There's room in this world forevery race, but I'm marching as
I'm marching, and this worldfrom red is on a marchin' as I'm
marchin'.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Marchin' down freedom's road.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
You can just imagine the freed men and women learning
that they had actually beenfreed two and a half earlier, on
Juneteenth.
This is the freed man speaks onJuneteenth.
(15:33):
Two whole years, two wholeyears, lord.
And then some you mean to tellme that for two whole years I've
(15:53):
been free and nobody told meI've been free and nobody told
me For two whole years I couldhave been owning my own land,
(16:15):
picking my own cotton, being myown man, madison Hill.
They robbed us and I'm madabout that, but they robbed us
for more than 250 years.
So I guess a couple more yearsDon't make much difference, but
(16:37):
we're free now and I'm gladabout that.
So we gonna dance, we gonnasing, just like we did back home
then, and we gonna beat thedrum.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
We gonna beat the drum.
You're gonna beat the drum Twowhole years Lord.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Two whole years of dancing.
To whom is love?
To whom is adventure?
One day, when the glory comes,it will be ours.
It will be ours One day whenthe world's won it will be sure,
it will be sure.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Glory, glory, glory, blow me, oh, blow me, oh, blow
me.
Thank you, so, so bye.
(20:36):
That's Jerron Lancaster on thetrombone and Tron.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Green on sax.
The first official June Peacecelebration took place in 1866
in Texas.
The rejoicing was widespreadand people wanted to mark this
(20:59):
special occasion on their marchto freedom.
And of course segregation stillexisted.
So enslaved people, formerlyenslaved people, could not use,
or were not allowed to use,public facilities for their
(21:20):
celebrations.
So most of the earlycelebrations were held in
churches and near water, and atthat time the occasion was
called Jubilee Day, and it wasfor many years after.
(21:40):
The word Juneteenth, which is aportmanteau of June and 19th,
did not come into use untiluntil the 1890s when the holiday
became a little morecommercialized.
(22:01):
So eventually Leeds and LaCrosse, texas, raised $1,000 and
bought 10 acres of land to holdtheir celebrations, and that
land today is the EmancipationPark in Houston, texas.
(22:27):
The people just wanted to befree and they celebrated at
every opportunity they got Tocelebrate this newfound freedom.
(22:48):
They were saying all we want isto be free.
(23:22):
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want wanna be free.
We just wanna take the chainsoff.
We just wanna take the chainsoff.
We just wanna be free.
I don't know why.
(23:46):
Every time I look outside, mypeople are dying.
I want you to know.
They don't make no gun that cankill my soul.
We just want to take thesechains off.
(24:13):
We have shaken these chains off.
We are free.
Oh, we have taken these chainsoff.
We have taken these chains off.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
We are free me, me, so, so Thank you.
(27:07):
So, thank you.
We just want to take the chainsoff and be free.
Shall I pick me?
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Shall I be on.
Who picked me on the keyboard?
Chains off.
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want to be free Be free.
Be free, and be free was whatperforming the slave people did
(28:10):
after Juneteenth.
The celebrations continued yearafter year, but during the Great
Depression, the early part ofthe 20th century and also the
Jim Crow era led to thecelebrations falling off a good
(28:36):
bit as people were preoccupiedwith other issues.
But they did still continue.
(29:01):
Then, around the 70s, therebecame a strong push for the
formal recognition of the June.
The celebrations then picked upagain and they took many
different forms, as they dotoday.
(29:26):
Anything from rodeos, car shows, fishing expeditions, lectures,
music concerts, festivals ofvarious kinds celebrate
(29:54):
African-American history andculture and freedom.
The state of Texas was thefirst to formally recognize
Juneteenth back in 1938 with theproclamation, but then with
(30:16):
legislation in 1979.
After she retired from teachingin the 70s, a teacher takes his
name, Opalal Lee got involved.
For decades she worked to makeJune Peter Feller a holiday.
(30:44):
She would take these 2.5 milewalks to symbolize the two and a
half years that the enslavedpeople in Texas remained
enslaved after the EmancipationProclamation.
And at the age of 89, she madea symbolic walk from Fort Worth,
(31:18):
Texas, to Washington DC toappeal to President Barack Obama
for assistance in making June10th a federal holiday
Throughout all this process.
(31:38):
As we know, music is the lifebloodod of African American
people.
It's the universal languagespoken in a particular and
(31:59):
unique way among AfricanAmericans.
Freedom songs, protest songs,redemption songs.
Oh, pirates, yes, they rob.
I so I'm from the merchant ship.
Minutes after they took backFrom the bottom their spirit,
(32:56):
but my hand was made strong bythe hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this derision.
Triumphantly.
We are winning this generationTriumphantly.
(33:18):
Won't you help me sing thesesongs of freedom?
They're all I ever have.
Redemption songs, Redemptionsongs.
(33:38):
Emancipate yourself from mentalslavery.
None but ourselves can free ourminds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,Cause none of them can stop the
(33:58):
tide.
How long shall they kill ourprophets?
While we stand aside and look,Some say it's just a part of it.
While we stand aside and look,Some say it's just a part of me.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
We've got to fulfill the role.
Won't you help me see thesesongs of freedom?
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Lord, I never had Redemption soon.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Redemption soon.
Redemption soon, I'm sorry,thank you, so Thank you.
I'm going to sing a song calledEmancipate yourselves from
mental slavery.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy.
No, nothing can stop the tide.
How long shall they kill ourprophets While we stand?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
aside and look, some say it's just a party.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
We've got to fulfill the purpose.
Won't you tell the story uponme?
May God fulfill the will.
Won't you help me sing thesesongs of fear?
They're all I've ever heardRedemption song, redemption song
(38:16):
, redemption song, redemptionsong, thank you, thank you very
much.
It's a Bob Marley song,redemption song.
(38:45):
Yes, and the process continuedPeople getting used to the
freedom, people celebrating thisfreedom.
And in 2020, after the murderof George Floyd in Minneapolis,
(39:09):
there came about what many calla racial reckoning in the United
States.
So that expedited the push forJuneteenth toward being third
party.
And On June 17th, 2021,president Joe Biden signed the
(39:39):
National Independence NationalJuneteenth Independence Day Act
into law.
So not only is it a federalholiday now, but every state in
the Union and the District ofColumbia recognize Juneteenth in
(40:00):
some way.
I'll say it.
And Juneteenth is alsocelebrated in Mexico, is also
(40:23):
celebrated in Mexico, in aregion that is inhabited by
descendants of black Seminoles,the Kahuga people, and they
recognize, appreciate andcelebrate their African heritage
, and that's the mentor ofMexico.
(40:44):
Yes, so we see that Juneteenthwas a part of the process and
(41:05):
the process continues.
Many people say the strugglecontinues, but I don't like that
word struggle.
We make the effort, we pushforward.
We're determined, but I don'tlike calling it struggle.
(41:27):
I think it's inevitability,even though it doesn't seem like
it.
But I think the forces we seetoday that seem to be opposed
the freedom, justice andequality, equity for everybody
are taking last gasp.
(41:48):
They know that way of livingand being is on the way out of
living and being is on the wayout and they want to try to stop
it at all costs.
But I don't think that'spossible, even though things may
appear hopeless sometimes.
So we press on and as people ofAfrica descend, we know it's
(42:16):
been a long, hard road, it'sbeen challenging, it's been
difficult, but throughout ourhistory we have developed
solidarity with our brothers andsisters on the African
continent and in many ways manypeople are repatriating to
Africa now.
So in a lot of ways, people ofAfrican descent are saying Mama
(42:39):
Africa, I'm coming home, cominghome physically, but also in
consciousness and in spirit andspirit, as we truly recognize
and appreciate the moments wecame.
(43:50):
Thank you, who will you blame?
I hear you calling, calling myname, I hear the drums.
The body really makes me scream.
The song is in my soul.
You'll naturally come home Soon.
It may fade soon, but I'll haveto wait for the day to come.
(44:23):
I'm coming home, I'm cominghome, I'm coming home.
They say, I cannot sing in thisstrange land, but that's not so
, for I'm an African man and thesong is in my soul.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
It will naturally come home Soon, in the face of
the left winged mob.
I'm coming home, I'm cominghome, I'm coming home, I'm
(45:13):
coming home.
Your name can drop on the mud,just like mine has here.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
We all are challenging, but we have no fear
.
We'll overcome Our empty god.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
I'm going to be gone, I'm going to be gone.
So, thank you, thank you, let'sgo, let's run kids on sax.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
So so Thank you, let's go.
(51:18):
Thank you One more second forthe drums.
Thank you way Mama Africa bythe Carthage Original by Chuck
Norman.
And we're going to wrap thingsup with a couple of originals,
Songs that speak to freedom andthe knowing that, despite the
challenges that we face in life,whatever form they may take,
that ultimately, if we keepworking, keep believing, keep
(51:42):
have been long.
But here comes the sun.
Piano plays softly my creator.
I thank you.
I've got one more chance.
(52:50):
My heart can still sing, mysoul can still dance.
The night is behind me.
Yesterday's done, today is anew day.
Here comes the sun.
Life can be funny or slippery,slow.
There are no guarantees forpower and hope.
(53:13):
Rise, my sister, and live yourdestiny.
Shine, my brother, be what youknow that you were meant to be,
(53:38):
so uh ¶¶.
Speaker 2 (55:54):
That's our old game.
One more time, thank you, soSing with me now.
Speaker 3 (56:48):
Play this new chance.
Let your heart sing now.
Let your soul dance.
Don't rest on your laurels.
Create a new vision.
Today is a new day.
Here comes the sun.
Life can be funny.
It's still too slow.
(57:09):
There are no guarantees, nopower.
In love God, who guarantees the?
Speaker 2 (57:16):
power and love Rise, my sister, you live your destiny
.
Speaker 3 (57:23):
Shine, my brother, be what you know that you were
meant to be me.
(58:20):
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
So, brothers and sisters, it'sbeen a tremendous honor and a
pleasure to be with you on thisevening to celebrate Juneteenth,
and I just want you to know,just want to confirm that we're
going to be alright.
Alright, we don't know thechallenges.
Sometimes the adversarialforces seem formidable,
(58:43):
invincible, but it's their jobto convince us to think that way
, so that we overlook what isactually their weakness and
their vulnerability.
(59:05):
But let's just keep working,keep believing, keep referring
again we'll be all right, I willbe all right, you will be all
(59:38):
right.
You may be hurting and theyfeel the same.
Your heart may be breaking andyou feel the same.
Believe in.
Hard times will come, but theyalso will go.
(01:00:02):
Keep the faith, just hang on.
Life is ever slow.
You'll be alright, my sister,I'm right by your side.
(01:00:24):
Hold on my brother, I'm rightby your side.
Keep faith, my people.
God is on our side.
With everybody moving together,everybody will be alright.
(01:01:01):
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Sharon, nia Bloom-Kinney andBach Project Music Director on
(01:01:24):
keyboards.
Gerard Lancaster on trombone,anton Ritter on saxophones.
Pumar second on drums.
I'm Bob Kularikoff.
We are the Bob Kularikoff Team.
Thank you so very much.
Thank you for blessing us withyour presence Today.
(01:01:47):
We love you.
May God bless you and we wishyou peace.
Speaker 2 (01:01:55):
Enjoy your Monday and your June 15th evening, and we
wish you peace and joy andreminder of your duty people,
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
All right, good evening everyone.
I'd like to extend a warmwelcome on behalf of Francis
Marion University and ourpresident, fred.
Carter the African Americanfaculty and staff coalition, the
African American Studies andUniversity Studies slavery
initiative.
We welcome you to an evening of.
(00:21):
Jazzy Poetic, the JuneteenthExperience by Bhakti Larry Hoof
and the Bhakti Project.
Bhakti Larry Hoof is a dynamicperforming and teaching artist,
cultural preservationist andmodern-day griot as president
and artist in residence of NewWorld Artists in Hartsville,
(00:45):
south Carolina.
He uses music, poetry,storytelling and percussion to
honor and uplift African andgospel musician Hough has
inspired audiences across thestate through educational
(01:09):
residencies, public performancesand cultural programming.
His work bridges generations,inviting communities to connect
deeply with heritage, healingand the power of arts.
Ladies and gentlemen, pleasegive an enthusiastic
no-transcript.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
I have known rivers as ancient as the world and as
old as the flow of human bloodand human veins.
My soul has grown deep like therivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates whendonals were young.
I built my hut in the Congo.
(05:12):
When I lowed me to sleep, Ilooked upon the Nile and raised
the pyramids above it, and Iheard the singing of the
Mississippi when Amy Blinkenwent down to New Orleans, and
I've seen its muddy bosom growall golden in the sunset.
I've known rivers, ancient,deep like the rivers, as likes
(05:57):
the views the negro speaks ofrivers, the backdrop of John
Coltrane's Love Supreme and goodevening.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Happy Juneteenth.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Happy Freedom Day, emancipation Day, such an
important day in the history ofAmerica.
And this is Jazzy Poetic, theJuneteenth Experience.
(06:53):
Thank you for the introduction.
Jazzy Poetic is a performanceseries that takes a chapter, a
topic of African Americanhistory and culture and
illuminates and celebrates itthrough jazz, other types of
music, poetry, african drummingand, of course, storytelling.
(07:19):
The day was no-transcript.
(08:12):
All slaves in Texas are nowfree.
The nation had been at war withitself for the previous four
(08:40):
years, after 13 southern statesseceded from the Union and on
the federal installation of FortSumter in the Charleston Park
starting the Civil War.
But now the war was over.
In 1865, confederate CommanderRobert E Lee had surrendered at
(09:07):
Appomattox and now theemancipation process could
proceed.
It had started in.
January 1863 with the signing ofthe Emancipation Proclamation
by President Abraham Lincoln.
But it only started the process.
(09:31):
The Emancipation Proclamationdid not free all enslaved people
.
It only freed the enslavedpeople in the Confederate States
, in the Confederate States.
(09:56):
So there were many people stillenslaved after January 1863.
The Emancipation process wasslow and inconsistent, and how
well it went generally dependedupon the presence of Union
troops to be present to enforceemancipation.
Because emancipation was notpopular among the slave owners,
(10:21):
they they resisted, and so veryoften they simply did not tell
the people they held captivethat they had been freed.
So that's how we explain howthe word of freedom did not
(10:47):
reach Texas until two and a halfyears after the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation.
And Granger, the Union General,was there in Texas with 2,000
troops in order to enforce itthere.
Juneteenth is a very, veryimportant historical moment and
(11:13):
we certainly should celebrate it.
But it was a milestone on theway to ultimate freedom.
It did not just like theEmancipation Proclamation did
not.
It did not free everybody,because many people remained
(11:35):
enslaved in Texas afterJuneteenth and also in what they
called the border statesKentucky and Delaware.
It wasn't until December of1865 that all enslaved people
(11:56):
were freed with the ratificationof the 13th Amendment to the
Constitution, but still therewas celebration, dancing,
playing the drums and, of course, singing singing freedom songs.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Like old freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom,
freedom, oh freedom, oh freedom.
Over me and before I'm asleep,I and go home to my love and be
(13:37):
free.
They don't let nobody turn mearound, turn me around, turn me
around.
They don't let nobody turn mearound, ain't gonna let nobody
(14:00):
Turn me around.
I keep on talking, keep ontalking.
(14:29):
Watching up the freedom land,I'm gonna march it, march it
marchin' down Freedom's Road.
Ain't nobody gonna stop me.
Ain't nobody gonna stop meMarching down Freedom's Road.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
It'll only be as plain as the nose on your face.
There's room in this world forevery race, but I'm marching as
I'm marching, and this worldfrom red is on a marchin' as I'm
marchin'.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Marchin' down freedom's road.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
You can just imagine the freed men and women learning
that they had actually beenfreed two and a half earlier, on
Juneteenth.
This is the freed man speaks onJuneteenth.
(15:33):
Two whole years, two wholeyears, lord.
And then some you mean to tellme that for two whole years I've
(15:53):
been free and nobody told meI've been free and nobody told
me For two whole years I couldhave been owning my own land,
(16:15):
picking my own cotton, being myown man, madison Hill.
They robbed us and I'm madabout that, but they robbed us
for more than 250 years.
So I guess a couple more yearsDon't make much difference, but
(16:37):
we're free now and I'm gladabout that.
So we gonna dance, we gonnasing, just like we did back home
then, and we gonna beat thedrum.
Speaker 2 (17:07):
We gonna beat the drum.
You're gonna beat the drum Twowhole years Lord.
Speaker 3 (18:23):
Two whole years of dancing.
To whom is love?
To whom is adventure?
One day, when the glory comes,it will be ours.
It will be ours One day whenthe world's won it will be sure,
it will be sure.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Glory, glory, glory, blow me, oh, blow me, oh, blow
me.
Thank you, so, so bye.
(20:36):
That's Jerron Lancaster on thetrombone and Tron.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Green on sax.
The first official June Peacecelebration took place in 1866
in Texas.
The rejoicing was widespreadand people wanted to mark this
(20:59):
special occasion on their marchto freedom.
And of course segregation stillexisted.
So enslaved people, formerlyenslaved people, could not use,
or were not allowed to use,public facilities for their
(21:20):
celebrations.
So most of the earlycelebrations were held in
churches and near water, and atthat time the occasion was
called Jubilee Day, and it wasfor many years after.
(21:40):
The word Juneteenth, which is aportmanteau of June and 19th,
did not come into use untiluntil the 1890s when the holiday
became a little morecommercialized.
(22:01):
So eventually Leeds and LaCrosse, texas, raised $1,000 and
bought 10 acres of land to holdtheir celebrations, and that
land today is the EmancipationPark in Houston, texas.
(22:27):
The people just wanted to befree and they celebrated at
every opportunity they got Tocelebrate this newfound freedom.
(22:48):
They were saying all we want isto be free.
(23:22):
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want wanna be free.
We just wanna take the chainsoff.
We just wanna take the chainsoff.
We just wanna be free.
I don't know why.
(23:46):
Every time I look outside, mypeople are dying.
I want you to know.
They don't make no gun that cankill my soul.
We just want to take thesechains off.
(24:13):
We have shaken these chains off.
We are free.
Oh, we have taken these chainsoff.
We have taken these chains off.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
We are free me, me, so, so Thank you.
(27:07):
So, thank you.
We just want to take the chainsoff and be free.
Shall I pick me?
Speaker 3 (27:31):
Shall I be on.
Who picked me on the keyboard?
Chains off.
We just want to take the chainsoff.
We just want to be free Be free.
Be free, and be free was whatperforming the slave people did
(28:10):
after Juneteenth.
The celebrations continued yearafter year, but during the Great
Depression, the early part ofthe 20th century and also the
Jim Crow era led to thecelebrations falling off a good
(28:36):
bit as people were preoccupiedwith other issues.
But they did still continue.
(29:01):
Then, around the 70s, therebecame a strong push for the
formal recognition of the June.
The celebrations then picked upagain and they took many
different forms, as they dotoday.
(29:26):
Anything from rodeos, car shows, fishing expeditions, lectures,
music concerts, festivals ofvarious kinds celebrate
(29:54):
African-American history andculture and freedom.
The state of Texas was thefirst to formally recognize
Juneteenth back in 1938 with theproclamation, but then with
(30:16):
legislation in 1979.
After she retired from teachingin the 70s, a teacher takes his
name, Opalal Lee got involved.
For decades she worked to makeJune Peter Feller a holiday.
(30:44):
She would take these 2.5 milewalks to symbolize the two and a
half years that the enslavedpeople in Texas remained
enslaved after the EmancipationProclamation.
And at the age of 89, she madea symbolic walk from Fort Worth,
(31:18):
Texas, to Washington DC toappeal to President Barack Obama
for assistance in making June10th a federal holiday
Throughout all this process.
(31:38):
As we know, music is the lifebloodod of African American
people.
It's the universal languagespoken in a particular and
(31:59):
unique way among AfricanAmericans.
Freedom songs, protest songs,redemption songs.
Oh, pirates, yes, they rob.
I so I'm from the merchant ship.
Minutes after they took backFrom the bottom their spirit,
(32:56):
but my hand was made strong bythe hand of the Almighty.
We forward in this derision.
Triumphantly.
We are winning this generationTriumphantly.
(33:18):
Won't you help me sing thesesongs of freedom?
They're all I ever have.
Redemption songs, Redemptionsongs.
(33:38):
Emancipate yourself from mentalslavery.
None but ourselves can free ourminds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,Cause none of them can stop the
(33:58):
tide.
How long shall they kill ourprophets?
While we stand aside and look,Some say it's just a part of it.
While we stand aside and look,Some say it's just a part of me.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
We've got to fulfill the role.
Won't you help me see thesesongs of freedom?
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Lord, I never had Redemption soon.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Redemption soon.
Redemption soon, I'm sorry,thank you, so Thank you.
I'm going to sing a song calledEmancipate yourselves from
mental slavery.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy.
No, nothing can stop the tide.
How long shall they kill ourprophets While we stand?
Speaker 2 (37:41):
aside and look, some say it's just a party.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
We've got to fulfill the purpose.
Won't you tell the story uponme?
May God fulfill the will.
Won't you help me sing thesesongs of fear?
They're all I've ever heardRedemption song, redemption song
(38:16):
, redemption song, redemptionsong, thank you, thank you very
much.
It's a Bob Marley song,redemption song.
(38:45):
Yes, and the process continuedPeople getting used to the
freedom, people celebrating thisfreedom.
And in 2020, after the murderof George Floyd in Minneapolis,
(39:09):
there came about what many calla racial reckoning in the United
States.
So that expedited the push forJuneteenth toward being third
party.
And On June 17th, 2021,president Joe Biden signed the
(39:39):
National Independence NationalJuneteenth Independence Day Act
into law.
So not only is it a federalholiday now, but every state in
the Union and the District ofColumbia recognize Juneteenth in
(40:00):
some way.
I'll say it.
And Juneteenth is alsocelebrated in Mexico, is also
(40:23):
celebrated in Mexico, in aregion that is inhabited by
descendants of black Seminoles,the Kahuga people, and they
recognize, appreciate andcelebrate their African heritage
, and that's the mentor ofMexico.
(40:44):
Yes, so we see that Juneteenthwas a part of the process and
(41:05):
the process continues.
Many people say the strugglecontinues, but I don't like that
word struggle.
We make the effort, we pushforward.
We're determined, but I don'tlike calling it struggle.
(41:27):
I think it's inevitability,even though it doesn't seem like
it.
But I think the forces we seetoday that seem to be opposed
the freedom, justice andequality, equity for everybody
are taking last gasp.
(41:48):
They know that way of livingand being is on the way out of
living and being is on the wayout and they want to try to stop
it at all costs.
But I don't think that'spossible, even though things may
appear hopeless sometimes.
So we press on and as people ofAfrica descend, we know it's
(42:16):
been a long, hard road, it'sbeen challenging, it's been
difficult, but throughout ourhistory we have developed
solidarity with our brothers andsisters on the African
continent and in many ways manypeople are repatriating to
Africa now.
So in a lot of ways, people ofAfrican descent are saying Mama
(42:39):
Africa, I'm coming home, cominghome physically, but also in
consciousness and in spirit andspirit, as we truly recognize
and appreciate the moments wecame.
(43:50):
Thank you, who will you blame?
I hear you calling, calling myname, I hear the drums.
The body really makes me scream.
The song is in my soul.
You'll naturally come home Soon.
It may fade soon, but I'll haveto wait for the day to come.
(44:23):
I'm coming home, I'm cominghome, I'm coming home.
They say, I cannot sing in thisstrange land, but that's not so
, for I'm an African man and thesong is in my soul.
Speaker 2 (44:49):
It will naturally come home Soon, in the face of
the left winged mob.
I'm coming home, I'm cominghome, I'm coming home, I'm
(45:13):
coming home.
Your name can drop on the mud,just like mine has here.
Speaker 3 (45:22):
We all are challenging, but we have no fear
.
We'll overcome Our empty god.
Speaker 2 (46:57):
I'm going to be gone, I'm going to be gone.
So, thank you, thank you, let'sgo, let's run kids on sax.
Speaker 3 (49:06):
So so Thank you, let's go.
(51:18):
Thank you One more second forthe drums.
Thank you way Mama Africa bythe Carthage Original by Chuck
Norman.
And we're going to wrap thingsup with a couple of originals,
Songs that speak to freedom andthe knowing that, despite the
challenges that we face in life,whatever form they may take,
that ultimately, if we keepworking, keep believing, keep
(51:42):
have been long.
But here comes the sun.
Piano plays softly my creator.
I thank you.
I've got one more chance.
(52:50):
My heart can still sing, mysoul can still dance.
The night is behind me.
Yesterday's done, today is anew day.
Here comes the sun.
Life can be funny or slippery,slow.
There are no guarantees forpower and hope.
(53:13):
Rise, my sister, and live yourdestiny.
Shine, my brother, be what youknow that you were meant to be,
(53:38):
so uh ¶¶.
Speaker 2 (55:54):
That's our old game.
One more time, thank you, soSing with me now.
Speaker 3 (56:48):
Play this new chance.
Let your heart sing now.
Let your soul dance.
Don't rest on your laurels.
Create a new vision.
Today is a new day.
Here comes the sun.
Life can be funny.
It's still too slow.
(57:09):
There are no guarantees, nopower.
In love God, who guarantees the?
Speaker 2 (57:16):
power and love Rise, my sister, you live your destiny
.
Speaker 3 (57:23):
Shine, my brother, be what you know that you were
meant to be me.
(58:20):
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
So, brothers and sisters, it'sbeen a tremendous honor and a
pleasure to be with you on thisevening to celebrate Juneteenth,
and I just want you to know,just want to confirm that we're
going to be alright.
Alright, we don't know thechallenges.
Sometimes the adversarialforces seem formidable,
(58:43):
invincible, but it's their jobto convince us to think that way
, so that we overlook what isactually their weakness and
their vulnerability.
(59:05):
But let's just keep working,keep believing, keep referring
again we'll be all right, I willbe all right, you will be all
(59:38):
right.
You may be hurting and theyfeel the same.
Your heart may be breaking andyou feel the same.
Believe in.
Hard times will come, but theyalso will go.
(01:00:02):
Keep the faith, just hang on.
Life is ever slow.
You'll be alright, my sister,I'm right by your side.
(01:00:24):
Hold on my brother, I'm rightby your side.
Keep faith, my people.
God is on our side.
With everybody moving together,everybody will be alright.
(01:01:01):
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Sharon, nia Bloom-Kinney andBach Project Music Director on
(01:01:24):
keyboards.
Gerard Lancaster on trombone,anton Ritter on saxophones.
Pumar second on drums.
I'm Bob Kularikoff.
We are the Bob Kularikoff Team.
Thank you so very much.
Thank you for blessing us withyour presence Today.
(01:01:47):
We love you.
May God bless you and we wishyou peace.
Speaker 2 (01:01:55):
Enjoy your Monday and your June 15th evening, and we
wish you peace and joy andreminder of your duty people,
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
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