Happy Black Independence Day!

Posted on June 19, 2019 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States, a day more important to descendants of Africans than the Fourth of July.  (Read Frederick Douglass’ classic speech, “What is the Fourth of July to the Negro?”)  In fact, Juneteenth is also called Black Independence Day.  On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led thousands of federal troops to Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended.  About 250,000 Texan slaves had no idea that their freedom had been secured by the Union, a little more than two months after the end of the Civil War.

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About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

William Eric Waters is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, educator, criminal-justice scholar, and nonprofit executive. Writing as William E. Waters, he is the author of the epic poem Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass and three poetry collections: Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, The Black Feminine Mystique, and The Black Blood of Poetry. Under the pen name Easy Waters, he is the author of the novel Streets of Rage and the short-story collection Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice. His work explores Black history, race, law, punishment, institutional power, accountability, redemption, and resilience.
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1 Response to Happy Black Independence Day!

  1. Dawn Ravella's avatar Dawn Ravella says:
    June 19, 2019 at 1:33 pm

    It’s a great day! Also Glen was born on June 19, and Kevin Bartley came home June 19.

    Dr. Dawn Ravella
    Director of Mission & Outreach
    The Reformed Church of Bronxville
    180 Pondfield Rd
    Bronxville, NY 10708
    914-337-6776 ext 114
    dawn@reformedchurch.org

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