Hank Johnson: “I thank the gentlewoman for leading this Special Order today on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus as we rise…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for leading this Special Order today on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus as we rise together to celebrate the African-American community and to commemorate an unsung holiday known as Juneteenth. Now, I was 21 years old when I first heard of Juneteenth. That was the year that I arrived in Texas to go to law school at Texas Southern University. Having been born here in the District of Columbia, somewhat north-- some folks say it is south, but I considered it to be the north, but now I accept it as being in the south. Back then, I didn't learn anything about Juneteenth living here in Washington, D.C., nor did I learn about it when I moved south to Atlanta at the age of 17. So the first time I heard was in Texas, and it was a joyful celebration, a joyful day. But since I have left Texas and gone back to Georgia, we don't really celebrate Juneteenth in Georgia. Right now, this year, will constitute the first county in Georgia--it would be my home county, DeKalb County--that will recognize and celebrate Juneteenth as a holiday. And it is a holiday that should be enjoyed by all of Americans, not just by Black people, but by White people, too, because when one of us are in bondage, it means all of us are in bondage. When all of us are free is when we are truly free. So Juneteenth marks the 156th celebration of the ending of slavery in this Nation, and since then we have made significant strides in the expansion of civil rights.…”