By Rev. Stacy Swimp For many, New Year’s Eve is a night of sparkling lights and resolutions. But for the Black community, the ticking clock has a deeper echo. To understand why we gather in churches on Dec. 31, we must look beyond the party and confront a journey of profound survival. We must remember […]
Tag: Emancipation Proclamation
Posted inReligion
Watch Night: How Black Americans welcomed freedom with prayer
Watch Night, also known as Freedom’s Eve, is a sacred New Year’s Eve tradition in Black communities rooted in Christian worship and remembrance of Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved and free African Americans gathered in prayer to await the Emancipation Proclamation. The tradition endures today as a blend of faith, cultural ritual and historical memory, honoring both spiritual perseverance and the long struggle for freedom.
Posted inBlack History
Houston’s Emancipation Park was born from freedom— here’s how it’s honored today
Just seven years after learning of their freedom, a group of formerly enslaved Black Texans purchased land in 1872 to establish Houston’s Emancipation Park—a space to celebrate Juneteenth and build community. Today, their descendants continue that legacy through events, education and advocacy that honor the park’s historic role in the fight for Black freedom and equality.
Posted inReligion
Watch Night: Escorting the New Year in with prayer
On New Year’s Eve 1862, African Americans gathered in secret to celebrate Watch Night, a tradition of prayer and reflection, as they awaited the Emancipation Proclamation and the promise of freedom.
Posted inNational News
Martha Whiting-Goddard, Houston historian, speaks on early Juneteenth celebrations of 19th century
Juneteenth celebrations in the past included parades, speeches, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the legacy of Juneteenth can be kept alive through education and sharing the story of the Black community’s journey to freedom.
Posted inNational News
The historical roots of Juneteenth and its legacy today
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the day that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to declare the freedom of some 250,000 enslaved African Americans in the state, and is now a federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery and the freedom of African Americans.
Posted inReligion
What does Watch Night mean for Black Americans today? It dates back to the Emancipation Proclamation
The Associated Press undefined The tradition of Watch Night services in the United States dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, when many Black Americans gathered in churches and other venues, waiting for President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law, and thus free those still enslaved in the Confederacy. It’s still being observed […]