On June 19, 1865, Union troops in Texas began to enforce the end of slavery following the Civil War. Approximately 250,000 enslaved Black Texans had new legal status.
Among these were people who had been enslaved at Varner-Hogg Plantation in West Columbia and Levi Jordan Plantation in Brazoria, both of which are now THC state historic sites. In this program, historians discuss the impact of emancipation for these newly free Texans.
Presenters
- Host: Andrea Barefield, executive director, Texas Brazos Trail Region
- Sam Collins, historian
- Chris Elliott, site manager, Levi Jordan Plantation and Varner-Hogg Plantation state historic sites
More Resources
- Juneteenth historical marker, 2201 Strand, Galveston
- 1867 Settlement Historic District, Texas City
- The Juneteenth Legacy Project
- Emancipation Proclamation, National Archives
- General Order No. 3, National Archives
- Plantations’ Past story in the Medallion magazine
- Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1938, Library of Congress
Books mentioned by Mr. Collins:
- Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration, Edward T. Cotham
- Juneteenth 101: Popular Myths and Forgotten Facts, D.J. Norman-Cox
- I Freed Myself: African American Self-Emancipation in the Civil War Era, David Williams
- Like Men of War: Black Troops in the Civil War 1862-1865, Noah Andre Trudeau
- Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations, Nicole A. Taylor
Watch other videos, view travel guides, and find more heritage destinations focusing on Black history at Texas Time Travel.