On the primary yr celebrating Juneteenth as a nationwide vacation, we are going to acknowledge a robust pioneer who, by way of many years of advocacy, elevated the standing of Juneteenth, obtained it on the federal radar and paved the best way for Juneteenth to be made a nationwide vacation in 2021. His achievements and legacy needs to be celebrated for the innumerable contributions he made all through his life, educating and selling the importance and significance of Juneteenth.
“Rep. Al Edwards believed it was essential for individuals to honor the historical past of enslaved individuals and bear in mind the sacrifices of their battle for freedom. He understood the importance of Juneteenth and relentlessly fought for an official observance in Texas, stated Sylvester Turner, the mayor of Houston in 2022. “This is the reason he authored the invoice making Juneteenth a state vacation. However he didn’t cease there and continued to advocate for a federal vacation. He labored tirelessly to coach and encourage individuals throughout the nation. I want he had been with us to have a good time that momentous day. All of us owe Rep. Edwards a debt of gratitude that Juneteenth is a nationwide vacation, and we are able to always remember his legacy.”
The late Albert Ely Edwards, born March 19, 1937, and generally known as the Father of Juneteenth, was the catalyst for Juneteenth turning into a federal vacation now celebrated by People throughout the nation. Edwards understood how essential it was for the emancipation of enslaved Black People to be acknowledged on a nationwide scale, and he knew the need of elevating consciousness of this painful chapter of American historical past borne by African People.
“All of us owe Rep. Edwards a debt of gratitude that Juneteenth is a nationwide vacation, and we are able to always remember his legacy.”
On the age of 41, Edwards entered politics and was elected to the Texas State Legislature from Houston’s Home District 146. His first main aim was to determine a vacation that acknowledged the emancipation from slavery. In 1979, laws that he launched recognizing Juneteenth Day handed the Texas State Legislature and was signed into regulation. As a direct results of his stalwart and tireless advocacy, Juneteenth, often known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, turned an annual state vacation/observance in 49 states of america.
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, the final state to finish American enslavement and almost two full years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which had declared the top of enslavement.
Throughout his profession, Edwards understood that for the U.S. Congress to take up making Juneteenth a nationwide vacation for a vote, it first wanted to cross within the majority of the states. As he served because the Vice Chairman of the Democratic Celebration’s Black Caucus for 10 years, the Nationwide Chairman of the Democratic Celebration’s Black Caucus for six years, a senior function within the Nationwide Convention of Black Legislators (26 years) and the Nationwide Convention of State Legislators (26 years), he used these nationwide relationships and platforms to encourage his state Black Caucus colleagues throughout the nation to cross the identical or comparable laws of their states.
He at all times believed that “till all Blacks had been free from bondage, then none had been free.” This drove him to carry the Juneteenth Vacation from its origins as a Texas cultural vacation to the nation as a federal vacation and a essential piece of American historical past worthy of recognition on the highest stage. To facilitate his efforts, he based Juneteenth USA in 1985 to advocate and lift consciousness about Juneteenth. Juneteenth USA is the primary and oldest Juneteenth advocacy group within the nation, at present led by his son, Jason Edwards.
The march to the nationwide vacation we have a good time as we speak started on the day the enslaved had been free, however the legislative course of began over 40 years in the past in Texas and culminated with Edwards’ shut good friend, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and Senator John Cornyn sponsoring the Federal Laws. Nonetheless, the highway was not a easy one, as Edwards didn’t have the complete help of all the 15 Black legislators on the time, not to mention the greater than 130 white ones. Via negotiation, compromise and “politicking” as he referred to as it, he received over the bulk to get HB1016 to the Governor’s desk.
Picture: courtesy of Jason Ok. Edwards.
Although deeply concerned with and dedicated to native points, Edwards remained lively outdoors the Texas State Legislature as properly. In 1983, he was appointed to the board of Operation PUSH. He additionally served because the Texas State Director for Reverend Jesse Jackson’s two presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988.
Sadly, Edwards handed away in April 2020 on the age of 83 earlier than witnessing the fruit of his lifetime of labor attain the nationwide scale. Nonetheless, his work for the Black group will reside on.
All through his profession, significant connections had been made by way of his efforts combating for equal rights. Subsequently, it was no shock to listen to the great phrases his colleagues needed to share at his memorial service.
Congresswoman and civil rights chief Maxine Waters was an expensive good friend and work colleague of Edwards. They went on many missions collectively, together with the battle to launch Nelson Mandela from jail in 1963.
“He was a extremely efficient and essential member of the Texas legislature who created and chaired the Texas Black Legislative Caucus and served as Chair of the Democratic Nationwide Committee Black Caucus, ” stated Congresswoman Waters. “Al and I served on the DNC collectively. We each endorsed, supported and labored for Jesse Jackson for President. We each labored to get Nelson Mandela launched from jail and fought towards apartheid in South Africa. Al Edwards stood firmly within the face of staunch opposition and wielded his affect to make sure that the abolition of slavery in america and the emancipation of our ancestors was correctly acknowledged as a paid vacation within the state of Texas; because of this, he’s acknowledged all through the state and throughout the nation because the Indeniable father of the Juneteenth vacation.”
Persevering with her heartfelt speech, she acknowledged, “On behalf of the complete Congress of america of America, all of us honor his service and dedication to justice and equality. Love at all times your sister and, after all, Auntie Maxine.”
At Edwards’ memorial, civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson acknowledged the next, “Al Edwards is within the Corridor of Fame. He made sacrifices. We thank God for his life and legacy. We’re in his debt. Al, my brother, God bless you. And I wish to thanks. Thanks for at all times being there. See you in heaven quickly. Love you a lot, Al Edwards. I’ll always remember you. I really like you a lot and your loved ones.”
Added Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, “So, I say to all of you as we speak, Frederick Douglass stated, ‘There is no such thing as a energy and not using a battle.’ The scripture says, ‘That our good and trustworthy servant has carried out a job and it’s properly carried out.’ So, I say to Consultant Al Edwards, to the life that you simply led, creating the nationwide effort and motion with the state vacation of Juneteenth; honored by america Congress and provoking so many people to take your legacy and historical past that we’ve got now created an Emancipation Path that may begin on the statue of Al Edwards in Galveston. So, to his household, I began by saying I considered him as a person who walked by way of historical past fearless and unfearing, with the grace of God and the love of a person who understood braveness, and so as we speak we honor him. And all I can say to you is to reside his life, inform his story as a result of historical past is who he’s.”
On Sunday, June 19, 2022, as you have a good time Juneteenth and its that means, take a second to recollect the Honorable Albert Ely Edwards. Bear in mind him as the person who, for 40 years, devoted his life to making sure America acknowledged and understood the significance of what the abolishment of slavery was to U.S. historical past and for all People. Bear in mind the servant-leader who tirelessly labored with state legislative our bodies throughout the nation to have this regulation handed on the state stage, which singularly created the opening for the initiative to make its approach to U.S. Congress, lastly, formally recognizing this big day as a federal vacation.
Content material for this text was offered by Jason Ok. Edwards, Chairman/President of Juneteenth U.S.A. Inc, a non-profit group. For extra info concerning the life and legacy of the late State Consultant Al Edwards Sr. or Juneteenth U.S.A., please attain out to jason@juneteenthusa.org.