Travis County Commissioners Court
June 16, 2009,
Item 1
1.
approve proclamation recognizing the 20th annual "juneteenth - emancipation day" celebration to be held on Thursday, June 18, 2009.
and the proclamation reads: whereas Juneteenth is a freedom celebration that became a tradition on June 19th, 1865, when general gordon granger sailed into galveston harbor and issued a proclamation that gave freedom to a quarter of a million african-americans in Texas who were still in bondage two and a half years after the emancipation wasissued.
they left in search of family members, economic opportunities or just because they could.
they left with nothing on their -- nothing but the clothes on their backs and hope in their hearts.
as blacks were free, they began the long struggle to gain equal rights as american citizens.
whereas while this 146-year-old event might at first seem like ancient history, sheryl brown says, echoes of the Juneteenth story resonate in the struggles people of color face today.
getting rights on paper is a far cry from getting them in real life.
today courageous men and women are still fighting for the civil rights of african-americans.
whereas Juneteenth is an occasion that should remind us to continue to strive to replace violence with peace, hatred with love and intolerance with appreciation for diversity and bigotry with respect for all men and women, whereas our nation will not achieve its full potential until every american has been granted an equal opportunity to reach his or her potential, and whereas the theme for this year's employee Juneteenth emancipation date celebration is remembering our past, embracing the present and investing in our future.
the annual -- the 20th annual Travis County and city of Austin Juneteenth emancipation day celebration will take place on Thursday, June 18th, 2009, at would ridge park plaza, from 11:00 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
and she sherylwants me to reminds you tt every employee has a full hour.
>> I didn't want you to do that
>> [laughter]
>> now there ever be it resolved that we the members of the Travis County Commissioners court do hereby proclaim June 19th, 2009, as Juneteenth Texas emancipation day in Travis County and encourage all residents to attend Juneteenth festivities and support the noble purpose of emancipation day.
i move approval.
>> second.
>> thank you very much.
>> good morning.
>> good morning, my name is sheryl brown, I work with judge Sam Biscoe's office.
>> still.
>> still
>> [laughter] I will be there as long as samuel t.
is there, I will be there.
and these are just a few members of the -- of the Juneteenth committee.
i started smiling because we have quite a few, about how many would you say, sally?
>> 15.
>> about 15 to 20.
and we had a larger group in the beginning.
when they all showed up the second week for a meeting I was very impressed.
i thought that I was fighting a few of them but they came back.
evidently they are hard at work at their desks while we represent them well.
we will start from the end and let each member identify themselves what department they are working from.
>> I'm madelyn kline, I work with its.
>>
>> [indiscernible] chavez burleson, with Commissioner Davis's office.
>> luke spears with Commissioner Ron Davis' office.
>> don purchasing.
>> chris
>> [indiscernible] Commissioner Davis's office.
>> like I say, we have many of them still working at the desk, doing fine tuning.
thank you for the proclamation.
i want to emphasize our theme this year and I'm not sure if media can get a copy -- can see -- there, I appreciate it, media.
i think for this year it's remembering our past, embracing our present and investing in our future.
so it's a timely thing, we believe, because there's so many changes going on, still a lot to go.
but if you come, we have a lovely display.
ms.
spears is extremely talented and
>> [indiscernible] it's worth your while if you don't do anything else, come out and look at her presentation.
we have pictures and artifacts from the past.
then we'll see the present.
so y'all might even see your picks up there, maybe, maybe.
then we have the future, you will see young people who we expect will lead us in the future.
the media does like to show negatives of your young people, that's not necessarily so.
there are good and bad and I know quite a few good.
i want you to come and see that.
a lot of them are children, our grandchildren, our neighbor's children, but you are going to really be -- pleased.
of course, it doesn't -- we can't do this alone.
we have sponsors who support our Juneteenth efforts and we have a little program so the sponsor's names will be on the back of a program you all will receive on Thursday.
how many did you count?
>> just over 55.
>> we have over 55 sponsors this year.
now, we are so -- so certain that some of the -- some of the sponsors' names are on here, I won't call their name, they haven't mailed their check.
we are so sure they were going to do so, I was going to mention it on tv, that I know those checks are on the way.
they are also supportive every year.
don, briefly, do you want to talk about the food we're going to have.
>> once again what would be a celebration without good food?
we have a great batting order.
our lead off is going to be tex mex, mr.
young did a great job last year, looking forward to doing a stellar job this year.
our designated hitter is going to be slow cooked juicy brisket.
in between we have great batters, we are going to have fajitas, frito pie, nachos, hot dogs.
for those who want to remember the halcion days of summers of gold, we're going to have root beer floats, snow cones.
and of course what would be a celebration without fried chicken, am I right?
>> right.
>> am I right?
>> right.
so we're going to have a great time.
come on out and enjoy.
and just eat yourself full.
>> [laughter]
>> thank you.
>> we ought to footnote that food is available for a small fee.
>> we make it affordable.
that's a good point, judge Biscoe.
none of the money that's raised comes to the group and doesn't go into into Travis County coffers by any means.
each department that chooses to host a booth, they supply start-up money and then any money raised goes right back into that department.
so many of the departments use that money for their united way contribution for the year.
some use it as a bereavement fund when colleague family members have passed on, to send plants and other remembrances.
that's a good point.
i appreciate you elect it up.
we do not make any money off of putting this grand event on.
it is a lot of work.
but, you know, good times.
oh, one thing.
i was hoping pam would be here.
another member of our committee.
each year we have reputations from the seniors, I have my aarp court, I am a senior.
but we have some seniors that even more experienced and wiser than i.
we have -- we have a group of -- mostly women but a couple of men.
their university hills groovers dance team.
they are are seniors who are aged 65 to 80, possibly those -- 80% of them are older than 80.
maybe they just decided not to say more.
they will be doing line dancing.
going to be so cute.
definitely be there, you might can join up.
we also have a youth group coming from kealing, actually sponsored hills terrell hills college has a mentoring program.
mentoring junior high students from kealing this summer.
we always have the buffalo soldiers, they are going to come and be our guests, also.
do any of my colleagues have anything to say?
>> I would like to -- to thank each and every one of you.
sheryl brown I would like to thank you, I know you are a big plug in this as far as inspiring others to come and for this great celebration.
it's been going on for 20 years.
judge, I guess you were there for the first one as far as this is concerned.
>> at a very young age, too, Commissioners.
>> just as important, though, is for all of us to continue to tell the story that was revealed within its proclamation that was being read here today.
that story must be repeated over and over and over again because of the fact that we have played a significant role in -- in developing this -- this nation, this country.
and that participation must not be forgotten and in all sectors and specters, of all of the things that we have done over the years.
not only that, I think we must still make sure all of us have equality, we have justice and at the end we will have peace.
i think all of those things go hand and foot for those folks that would like to expire -- inspire that we reach those goals.
this is important and significant let's continue to tell the story.
>> we thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you to this fine, fine committee.
they are hardest working people in Travis County, I'm sure.
we appreciate the work of the county.
we try to employ as many county and city employees as possible.
we try to have ours on the day other than when the community celebrates so we won't conflict with them.
the public is invited.
no county dollars are spent.
the elected officials contribute, various department heads contribute, also, money is raised for non-profit causes, which is -- which is very good.
so -- everybody is invited day after tomorrow.
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you.
2:00 we will call up at 2:30 this afternoon.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:41 PM