Free to Live and Lead

Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas in 1865,involved in politics. Among his appointments were
observing June 19th as African American emancipationregistrar of voters in Tallahatchee County, tax
day. Two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln'sassessor in Bolivar County, then was elected sheriff
Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, Union soldiersand tax collector of the same county. On a trip to
landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the warJackson, Mississippi in 1870, Bruce made some very
had ended and the enslaved were free.important connections with powerful white Republicans
Many great men and women were born into slavery,and received several appointments that ultimately led
but overcame obstacles and became politicians, thusto him being recognized as the most recognized black
becoming spokespeople for the many who sufferedpolitical leader in Mississippi. In 1874, he was elected to
and continued to suffer even after the Emancipationthe United States Senate by the Mississippi legislature.
Proclamation. One such person is Booker T.He convinced the government to issue land grants in
Washington, born April 5, 1856 in Hale's Ford, Virginia.the west to black emigrants and called for
His mother was a slave and his father was a whitedesegregation of US Army units. On February 14, 1879
plantation owner. Being born to a slave, he was also ahe became the first black senator to preside over a
slave, according to laws at that time. In 1865, theySenate session. He was an advocate for the humane
were granted their freedom under the Emancipationtreatment of Indians and became a lecturer and author
Proclamation. He and his mother and siblings moved toof magazine articles. He died in Washington on March
Malden, WV to reunite with his stepfather. At the age17, 1898.
of nine, he worked various jobs with his mother andJohn Roy Lynch was born September 10, 1847 on a
even was briefly hired to work on a steamboat. Heplantation near Vidalia, Louisiana. His father was Patrick
became a houseboy for Viola Ruffner, the wife ofLynch, manager of the plantation and his mother was
General Lewis Ruffner. She encouraged him to attendCatherine White, a slave. Patrick Lynch, who was an
school and study. Soon he was ready for higherIrish immigrant, purchased his wife and two children
learning and enrolled at Hampton Normal andfrom the owner of the plantation, but due to a law in
Agricultural Institute, paying his way by working. FromLouisiana, they had to leave the state in order for
1878 to 1879, he went to Wayland Seminary inLynch to free them. Lynch transferred ownership of
Washington, DC and returned to Hampton to teach. Hehis wife and children to a friend, as he was sick and
was recommended by Hampton officials for adying, with the promise that they would be treated as
principals position at a similar school that was beingfree individuals. However, the friend reneged on his
opened in Alabama.promise and sold the family to a planter in Natchez,
He became the first principal of the Tuskegee NormalMississippi.
and Industrial Institute in 1881, the school that is nowUnion forces freed John Roy, then 16, in 1863. He
Tuskegee University. Washington became friends withworked several jobs and in 1866, he managed a
some very influential and prominent politicians andphotography shop in Natchez and learned to read
businessmen, such as Andrew Carnegie and Williamfrom newspapers and books and was quite interested
Howard Taft, through which several small schoolsin parliamentary law. In 1868, he gave a number of
were founded to establish better educational facilitiesspeeches supporting Mississippi legislation that made all
for African Americans. One of his greatest friendshipsslave marriages legal. In 1869, he was sent by the
was with Henry H. Rogers, who became a principal inNatchez Republican club to discuss political
Standard Oil. Rogers, a millionaire, secretly funded 65appointments with the Mississippi military governor.
small country schools for African Americans andImpressed with his presentation, he was appointed to
donated money to Tuskegee and Hamptonjustice of the peace and later that year, he was
Universities. Washington had become a great publicelected to the Mississippi House of Representatives.
speaker and was renowned as a brilliant educator. HisHe worked closely with Blanche K. Bruce, working
famous Atlanta Address of 1895, urging businessmainly on black civil rights. Given his birth as a slave
owners to hire African Americans rather thanand lack of formal education, he truly made quite an
immigrants that were arriving daily and Africanimpact for African Americans.
Americans to join the workforce, changed hiringAs the many people who made the pilgrimage back to
practices and attitudes and became one of the mostGalveston, Texas every year to remember the
important speeches in American History. Although onlyactions of ancestors who made a difference, we
elected to university positions, Washington was quiteshould celebrate June 19th no matter what your
influential in politics and made quite a mark on history.heritage as all of our ancestors made sacrifices and
Blanche K. Bruce was born in slavery March 1, 1841 instood up for what they believed in so that we have
Virginia. During his moves from Virginia to Mississippiachieved the positions we have today. Go on a family
and then Missouri, he was tutored by his master's son.outing, a picnic, a celebration, just as you would
He escaped from slavery at the beginning of the Civilcelebrate the Fourth of July, for that is what it is all
War and tried to enlist with the Union Army. He wasabout; celebrating the freedom you have because of
refused entry and in 1864, he moved to Hannibal,the dedication and beliefs of those who walked that
Missouri and opened the first school for blacks. Fiveroad before us and for us.
years later, he moved to Mississippi and became