Travis County Commssioners Court
June 17, 2003
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Item 3
3. Approve proclamation recognizing the 14th annual employees "juneteenth - emancipation day" celebration to be held on Thursday, June 19th, 2003 instead of 2002. Okay. Item no. [indiscernible] we have post-partum depression ponied one week -- postponed one week. We have been asked to give the city and developer a further opportunity to discuss the matter. [inaudible - no mic]ησ
>> okay, why don't we do it under citizens communication, that will be coming up real soon. The proclamation reads whereas Juneteenth commemorates the african americans who were brought as slaves -- more than 11 million africans survived the voyage to the new world and were enslaved in the united states for more than 200 years after arrival, whereas on September 22nd, 1862, president lincoln that's abraham lincoln issued an order to free slaves effective January 1, 1863. However, it was not until June 19th, 1865, for months later -- 30 months later that jordan general granger arrived in galveston, Texas and found blacks still enslaved. Whereas on that day in 1865 general granger gave general order number 3 in which president ling con proclaimed that all slaves were free, all meant including the state of Texas, right? Whereas, Juneteenth celebrated annually on the 19th day of June is the name given to emancipation day by african americans in Texas. Celebrations began in Texas and spread to the neighboring states of louisiana, arkansas and oklahoma as texans migrated the celebrations also spread to -- to alabama, florida and california, where yours truly has thousands of relatives that are probably celebrating this Thursday. Whereas many parts of Texas ... June tent gatherings, examples include mans emans operation -- emancipation park in houston, mexia, and emans operation -- emancipation day here in east Austin, still fighting for freedom, justice and equality for african americans, whereas Juneteenth is a time for reflection, rejoicing, reflection, self improvement and planning for the future. The celebration will be on Thursday, June 19th, 2003, at wooldridge park plaza, from 11:00 a.m. To 2:00 p.m., This year employees are fully authorized to use a full one hour of lunch during this three hour period. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we the members of the Travis County Commissioners court do here by proclaim June 19th, 2003, emancpation day in Travis County and ask for support of this day. I move approval.
>> second.
>> good morning.
>> good morning.
>> I'm sheryl brown. I currently work in Travis County judge Sam Biscoe's office. Once a year I get a chance to talk on the mic, after the presentation I'm not sure whether I will still be working there. But -- but sitting with me are colleagues from -- from Commissioner Davis's office and this is a real fun job for me because they don't like to talk. [laughter] but anyway, we have chris faniel, lou spears, nellie chavez. Other people on the committee who will also be recognized on our program on Thursday, the printed program who have been doing quite a bit of behind the scenes job. Let me talk about the first, most important we have of cou se the food booths and we have our -- our human resources department is going to have that famous fried catfish. We have barbecue plates as usual, we have desserts, watermelons, sodas, also -- also reserve the selling of sodas to a local youth group, children, so they can raise money, so make sure you support them. We have sausage wraps, fajitas, anything, come with plenty of money, we appreciate that. Also we advertised the sale of our t-shirts this year. Each year we have a different design and carol carter in i.t.s. Is our person who designed our t-shirt for this year. She's done it for several years. We have -- we did order over the amount than those who e-mailed us back. So we will have a few extra, maybe about how many do you all think? About 100 extra, it will be first come, first served. The price ranges from $10 or $12 according to the size. Okay? You can contact judge Biscoe's office or Commissioner Davis' office, but we will sell the -- the overrun of t-shirts as people owe owe call. I've been -- we were a little hesitant at first about the design. We thought it was beautiful, but there's -- you will see when you get closer to it, there are two very exuberant happy ladies on the front. We were wondering if that was going to sell well with the men. Men over 50 have really for some reason been enjoying that t-shirt [laughter] they really get their t-shirts fast. All right. The struggle of Travis County -- of Juneteenth, you know, as a people, we have always depended on prayer and praise to get through from the time of slavery, the underground railroad, throughout the civil rights. We have always depended on our prayer to get us through. And we have never had a Juneteenth occasion that we did not have invocation. This year, we try to outdo ourselves each year. This year I was really surprised to -- not surprised but pleasantly surprised to see that not only do we have a man of god who is going for be present being our invocation, his name is john f. Mccormick, most of you all know him, the great thing about the man of god he's always a lawyer. We want everybody to come out, bring your children, bring your grandmother from the home, we will let you touch him, talk to him, he's a practicing attorney. We are really exciting about having john back.
>> [indiscernible]
>> let me see. We are of course always each year the contributions we never could have this activity without the generous contributions of elected officials and department heads and friends of Travis County. And we -- we announced that if we ever -- you know, look like we have a lot of fun. We are having a lot of fun, but this is a costly endeavor. If there's ever an overrun, judge Biscoe and Commissioner Davis are going to have to go in their pockets and pick that up. I wanted to recognize three star contributors this year. We asked for $25 donation, we will accept that, all the way up until the date. But there were three individuals for some reason came to you all's rescue this year, Commissioner Davis and judge. And I wanted to recognize them, they went beyond what sizable checks they were, judge herb evans, judge john hathaway and judge bennett. I wanted to personally recognize them and hopefully you all will spend that money at one of the food booths. I think -- I want you all please to be careful when you are shaking good Biscoe's hand and slapping Commissioner Davis on the back, to be sure to think about the people who are quiet here who work so hard to put this thing together. I only add the charm to the Juneteenth, I really do. [laughter] but these are the most hard working people that you will ever -- that you will ever see. So I want you to always be careful -- why is that so funny? You always be careful to remember the people who are doing such hard work. I think that's all that I have to say.
>> anybody else want to say something?
>> now you see why we don't have much to say. [laughter]
>> judge, have you ever done standup comedy?
>> it's my second job. Yes. [laughter]
>> I do have a -- a serious question to ask you. I was listening to one of the radio stations this morning and I really would like to know this. Someone had called in and said that it is a little derogatory to use the word Juneteenth. I have never known that. I mean, that's not the case, is it is it.
>> it's also called black emancipation date.
>> we used to be called color, negro, black african american. Because this is a historical event and it was first called Juneteenth we are really proud to continue to use the term Juneteenth. Personally, I don't think my colleagues either, we personally find it offensive.
>> I had never heard that. It was a very credible conversation on the radio this morning and I thought, boy, that can't be right. We've got signs all over the building with Juneteenth.
>> you all don't have to stay on the air, they can go to the source. [laughter]
>> all right. I'm glad to know that, thank you.
>> any of you all, anybody else have anything -- [indiscernible]
>> see you there.
>> very good.
>> I would like to say personally I would like to thank chris and ms. Brown, sheryl and ms. Burleson and also ms. Spears, then again you mentioned those folks that are behind the scene that really aren't up front that are really helping out, this event. It's very, very important that I think we continue to recognize the -- the folks that helped build this country and helped build the nation. With that I won't go into these other things. But I would like to personally extend a hand of thanks and recognition for the work that you all have continued to do for many years and you are doing a great job. I would like to --
>> one gentleman who is not able to be with us because he's probably working real hard, that's jim washington and he's really talented person. He's over our music and stage production and sound and all of that. Very talented gentleman. So a big thank you and recognition to jim washington, among others.
>> okay.
>> we appreciate all of the work of the committee members, no county money is used on this event. All in favor of the motion? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
>> thank you.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 9:52 AM