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ANCESTRY® BLOG

History

Honoring Juneteenth in Galveston

6 MIN READ

By Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington
18 June 2024

Juneteeth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops freed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people across Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, people were still enslaved in areas under Confederate control. June 19th, Emancipation Day, became a national holiday in 2021. 

Stephanie Washington and Shimeka Graves are Ancestry® employees and co-chairs of Black Roots, an Ancestry® Employee Resource Group. They recently visited Galveston, Texas, to experience in person the place where enslaved people were finally freed. This is the first in a series of posts, “Real People, Connected to Real Places @ Ancestry.”

Stephanie Washington’s Reflections

I had the remarkable opportunity to visit the Galveston Historical Foundation’s “And Still We Rise” interactive exhibit in Galveston, and it became a profoundly emotional and enlightening experience for me. This visit deepened my understanding of Juneteenth and the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. As a Black woman, it was particularly moving to stand in the city where General Order No. 3 was read on June 19, 1865, marking the end of slavery in Texas—a pivotal moment ingrained in our shared history.

Located in the carriage house of Ashton Villa in Galveston, the exhibit is far more than just a collection of artifacts. It’s a rich narrative woven from interviews, historical documents, and interactive displays, each speaking volumes about the resilience and courage of the African American community in Galveston. The exhibit beautifully captures the evolution of Juneteenth over the years, ranging from the jubilant celebrations of the first Emancipation Day to the more subdued commemorations in later decades.

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Galveston Juneteenth Exhibit, Carriage House of the Ashton Villa. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

What truly stood out to me was the exhibit’s unwavering emphasis on authentic storytelling and preserving the unvarnished truth of our history. It not only shines a light on the essential role of African American voices in recounting their own stories, free from distortion or omission, but also immerses visitors in these personal histories and cultural contexts. As a result, the exhibit ensures that Juneteenth’s legacy is remembered and celebrated with the reverence and appreciation it deserves.

Shimeka Graves’ Reflections

Visiting Galveston, Texas, while being a Houston resident is something that I’ve taken for granted for the past fifteen years. I had the opportunity to go to the “Still I Rise” Juneteenth exhibit and was able to share a heartwarming experience with my Black Roots Co-Chair, Stephanie Washington. We decided to take this trip to help showcase a different aspect of how some may view the holiday and to be able to share with our colleagues at Ancestry—and others—what it was like to be in that place where Juneteenth occurred. Stephanie and I hope that by sharing our experience we can provide additional insights that are relevant to our Black culture.

Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington

With no true direction or plans for the day, the exhibit provided a very “goosebump” experience as I felt that our ancestors guided the day for us to be completely moved and almost in tears. To experience true culture, understanding, and the richness of Galveston is something that I believe will leave a lasting impact on my future as I cultivate a learning environment for my children, and their children to come.

As we were being guided by our lovely tour guide Ms. Tommie Boudreaux, I can’t count how many times I was filled with emotion truly knowing how Black people in the 1800s suffered through many lies and misunderstanding even after Emancipation in 1865. Although these are known facts through history, ultimately understanding that our country is trying to erase the truth is down right heartbreaking. We were able to get a small private tour of one the oldest carriage houses with the original brick still intact that was built at Ashton Villa. While we viewed the fireplace in the ballroom, I imagined what the people looked like in the 1800s. I saw enslaved people serving guests of the owner while people danced in the ballroom, and the servers walking around with appetizer plates that had fruit, and shrimps on platters at the end of the hall.

Afterwards, we were able to visit the oldest and first African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) church in Texas, Reedy Chapel. This chapel is also where stories are told that Hawkins Wilson wrote his letters as a child while he taught children’s Bible study during the week. This church is also the same church that the people congregated after finding out that they would be free. They came here to rejoice, cry, dance, celebrate as one as they could feel the reach of their freedom.

Reedy Chapel, Galveston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

Our last stop we visited the Strand to see the beautiful mural of Galveston and the story of Emancipation of June 19, 1865. I sat in my truck in awe. Taken aback as I was able to view and actually absorb the full story of Juneteenth. How have I sat an hour away and always celebrated, without truly knowing this piece of history? How could I continue to sit back and not return in the future to celebrate with my people and feel the richness of what they went through? How could I just not truly understand?

Juneteenth Legacy Project mural, Galveston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

Now that I do understand, I can bring the richness and understanding of this time in Black History to my whole self at work. Our experiences and voices do matter. I matter and Juneteenth is just not another holiday to talk about slavery. It’s a piece of history in Texas that emancipation happened in Galveston two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was intended to apply across the United States. In Black culture, Juneteenth is considered to be our second independence day. I am honored to have been able to witness and be a part of the experience, I am honored to have shared this experience with Stephanie, and I am honored to be a Black woman at Ancestry. 

Happy Juneteenth!

Explore your African American roots today on Ancestry®. You can also explore the new Articles of Enslavement Collection at no cost. Start building your family tree today for free.

Sources

  • https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth 
  • https://www.galvestonhistory.org/sites/and-still-we-rise-galvestons-juneteenth-story
RELATED POSTS
Honoring Juneteenth in Galveston

The world’s largest online family history resource - Start now

ANCESTRY® BLOG

History

Honoring Juneteenth in Galveston

6 MIN READ

By Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington
18 June 2024

Juneteeth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops freed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people across Texas. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, people were still enslaved in areas under Confederate control. June 19th, Emancipation Day, became a national holiday in 2021. 

Stephanie Washington and Shimeka Graves are Ancestry® employees and co-chairs of Black Roots, an Ancestry® Employee Resource Group. They recently visited Galveston, Texas, to experience in person the place where enslaved people were finally freed. This is the first in a series of posts, “Real People, Connected to Real Places @ Ancestry.”

Stephanie Washington’s Reflections

I had the remarkable opportunity to visit the Galveston Historical Foundation’s “And Still We Rise” interactive exhibit in Galveston, and it became a profoundly emotional and enlightening experience for me. This visit deepened my understanding of Juneteenth and the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality. As a Black woman, it was particularly moving to stand in the city where General Order No. 3 was read on June 19, 1865, marking the end of slavery in Texas—a pivotal moment ingrained in our shared history.

Located in the carriage house of Ashton Villa in Galveston, the exhibit is far more than just a collection of artifacts. It’s a rich narrative woven from interviews, historical documents, and interactive displays, each speaking volumes about the resilience and courage of the African American community in Galveston. The exhibit beautifully captures the evolution of Juneteenth over the years, ranging from the jubilant celebrations of the first Emancipation Day to the more subdued commemorations in later decades.

RECENT POSTS

GET THE LATEST
New posts + monthly newsletter.

RECENT POSTS

GET THE LATEST
New posts + monthly newsletter.

Galveston Juneteenth Exhibit, Carriage House of the Ashton Villa. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

What truly stood out to me was the exhibit’s unwavering emphasis on authentic storytelling and preserving the unvarnished truth of our history. It not only shines a light on the essential role of African American voices in recounting their own stories, free from distortion or omission, but also immerses visitors in these personal histories and cultural contexts. As a result, the exhibit ensures that Juneteenth’s legacy is remembered and celebrated with the reverence and appreciation it deserves.

Shimeka Graves’ Reflections

Visiting Galveston, Texas, while being a Houston resident is something that I’ve taken for granted for the past fifteen years. I had the opportunity to go to the “Still I Rise” Juneteenth exhibit and was able to share a heartwarming experience with my Black Roots Co-Chair, Stephanie Washington. We decided to take this trip to help showcase a different aspect of how some may view the holiday and to be able to share with our colleagues at Ancestry—and others—what it was like to be in that place where Juneteenth occurred. Stephanie and I hope that by sharing our experience we can provide additional insights that are relevant to our Black culture.

Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington

With no true direction or plans for the day, the exhibit provided a very “goosebump” experience as I felt that our ancestors guided the day for us to be completely moved and almost in tears. To experience true culture, understanding, and the richness of Galveston is something that I believe will leave a lasting impact on my future as I cultivate a learning environment for my children, and their children to come.

As we were being guided by our lovely tour guide Ms. Tommie Boudreaux, I can’t count how many times I was filled with emotion truly knowing how Black people in the 1800s suffered through many lies and misunderstanding even after Emancipation in 1865. Although these are known facts through history, ultimately understanding that our country is trying to erase the truth is down right heartbreaking. We were able to get a small private tour of one the oldest carriage houses with the original brick still intact that was built at Ashton Villa. While we viewed the fireplace in the ballroom, I imagined what the people looked like in the 1800s. I saw enslaved people serving guests of the owner while people danced in the ballroom, and the servers walking around with appetizer plates that had fruit, and shrimps on platters at the end of the hall.

Afterwards, we were able to visit the oldest and first African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E) church in Texas, Reedy Chapel. This chapel is also where stories are told that Hawkins Wilson wrote his letters as a child while he taught children’s Bible study during the week. This church is also the same church that the people congregated after finding out that they would be free. They came here to rejoice, cry, dance, celebrate as one as they could feel the reach of their freedom.

Reedy Chapel, Galveston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

Our last stop we visited the Strand to see the beautiful mural of Galveston and the story of Emancipation of June 19, 1865. I sat in my truck in awe. Taken aback as I was able to view and actually absorb the full story of Juneteenth. How have I sat an hour away and always celebrated, without truly knowing this piece of history? How could I continue to sit back and not return in the future to celebrate with my people and feel the richness of what they went through? How could I just not truly understand?

Juneteenth Legacy Project mural, Galveston, Texas. Photo courtesy of Shimeka Graves & Stephanie Washington.

Now that I do understand, I can bring the richness and understanding of this time in Black History to my whole self at work. Our experiences and voices do matter. I matter and Juneteenth is just not another holiday to talk about slavery. It’s a piece of history in Texas that emancipation happened in Galveston two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which was intended to apply across the United States. In Black culture, Juneteenth is considered to be our second independence day. I am honored to have been able to witness and be a part of the experience, I am honored to have shared this experience with Stephanie, and I am honored to be a Black woman at Ancestry. 

Happy Juneteenth!

Explore your African American roots today on Ancestry®. You can also explore the new Articles of Enslavement Collection at no cost. Start building your family tree today for free.

Sources

  • https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth 
  • https://www.galvestonhistory.org/sites/and-still-we-rise-galvestons-juneteenth-story
RELATED POSTS