| Leaving Mystic on Juneteenth 2008 |
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| Written by Dani Settle - SV Amistad - Chef | |
| Thursday, 19 June 2008 | |
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What a perfect day to leave Mystic the home of the Amistad’s birth…it is always wonderful to return home and what a return it was…This last year’s travels some 14,000 miles is a testament to the craftsman ship and skill of all of those who had a hand in building her with love and care…she loves the open sea… Before we left to make the 9:40 bridge…we were visited by teachers from the Mabelle B. Avery Middle School…they had come to the Seaport for a special program…but during the school year their classes have been following the travels of the Amistad and her crew…I had the honor to talk to the teachers and they graciously thank me and the crew for sharing and taking them along on our adventure…it was so wonderful to know that we have touched so many young minds in such a positive way…we have done what we set out to do…I want the thank Betsy Kenneson, and Ellen Quagliaroli, and all of the other teachers, who I didn’t remember your names…you are my heroes…keep up the great work… And all of this happening on Juneteenth which is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the US…it was on June 19th 1865 that Major General Gordon Granger, with a groups of Union soldiers, arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the war had ended and the enslaved were free…two and a half years had pass since the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln had become official Jan. 1 1863… Due to the lack of Union troops if was difficult to enforce the new order…There have been a number of reason’s given why it took so long, the messenger was murdered, new was withheld to maintain the labor force and another federal troops waited for the slave owners to get one last cotton harvest…all or none could be true… One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 that began most significantly with: "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer." The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer to employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former 'masters' - attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go, many felt that leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of freedom. North was a logical destination and for many it represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove the some into Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. As free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent status for black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth is being celebrated all over the country with families coming together to pay homage to those that have gone on before…So for us on the Amistad we had a small celebration in honor of the Ancestors…the fare for the evening was served on deck under a sunny cloudless sky off of Long Island Sound…. Bar-B-Que Spare Ribs, dani’s special sauce, collard greens, black-eyed peas, marinated cucumbers and red onions, hush puppies, honey butter, ice-cold watermelon and sweet tea… Once again I give thank to the Ancestor who came before that I have the opportunity to touch as many lives as I can…. Ashe Chef Dani – ancestor in training… Comments
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