The Liberty, Missouri Juneteenth Legacy

The Liberty, Missouri Juneteenth Legacy. . , Samuel C. Houston, the first African American City Councilman in Liberty, Missouri organized a committee of community volunteers to host Juneteenth in Clay County on June 17, 1989 in Bennett Park. It was the first Juneteenth celebration held in a suburban city in the Greater Kansas City metroplex. Sam graduated from Garrison School in 1939. His family was among the first African American families to settle in Clay County. He was employed by Liberty Public Schools 38 years as the Director of Custodial Services at Ridgeview and Liberty Junior High. Sam was the owner of Houston Custodial Services 25 years. On his first attempt at politics, he beat an incumbent to become the first African American elected official in Clay County where he represented Ward One and served on the Liberty City Council 18 years. He worked tirelessly to fight for civil rights, fair housing, and public accommodation laws in the 1960s in Liberty. He served as co-founder of the Liberty Fellowship of the Concerned, chair of the First Baptist Church Deacon Board and deacon for 50 years. In 1985. Sam formed a committee of Liberty citizens to plan the first Martin Luther King, Jr., Birthday Celebration and organized the first civil rights march in the community. In 2008, Sam was presented the Outstanding Missourian Award from the Missouri House of Representatives in Jefferson City., Throughout the years. Liberty's Juneteenth Celebration has been hosted in the Historic Garrison District at Ruth Moore Park, St. Luke AME Church, Garrison School Cultural Center, and the Kansas City Shoal Creek Golf June 2021 marks Liberty's 21st Juneteenth Celebration. Clubhouse. Freedom and the unity of cultural diversities which Juneteenth represents is a part of the American story and the American dream. Each of us takes pride in our ethnic identity and in sharing who we are. Through our collective accomplishments, all of us are strengthened. , President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation that freed enslaved African Americans January 1, 1863. However, the war between the states was still raging, with Texas an active participant on the Confederate side. Slavery was not lifted until General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate army surrendered in 1865 and President Andrew Johnson placed Major General Gordon Granger, of the Union Army, in command of Texas. He began an historic voyage from the New Orleans area and landed at the District of Texas Headquarters at Galveston June 19, 1865 and on this day, declared the freedom of all enslaved persons. The Missouri Emancipation Proclamation freed its enslaved African Americans January 11, 1865 and the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution abolished slavery January 31, 1865. , Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas where it is an official holiday, but it is only one of many Freedom celebrations held on various dates commemorating the end of slavery across the country slavery. The end of slavery was a gradual process and a local one which evoked local observances. June 19. 1989 marked the first Juneteenth Day celebration in Liberty. Missouri. Patterned after a traditional celebration of Emancipation Day in the State of Texas, this event has become a significant observance for the African American community and all residents in the northland and the Kansas City area.