On June 20, 2014, the Black Probation Officer Association hosted the Juneteenth celebration at the Bayou Grill Restaurant in the heart of Inglewood, California. The event included live music, entertainment, and delicious New Orleans cuisine. APPA President Vincent Yung, Past President Hans Liang, and APPA Advisor Larry Wang were among the audience who joined members of the BPOA for an evening of fun. There were about 40 who guests attended the evening event.
BPOA President Perry Amos opened the evening by welcoming everyone and explained that Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back 1865, it was June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union Troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the force was finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom and achievement in the United States, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. APPA is honored to be a part of the Juneteenth celebration with fellow BPOA family, and most importantly to acknowledge the triumph of hardship and the value of overcoming adversity. As we approach our future, promoting a cultural event such as Juneteenth is essential to creating new bonds of friendship and understanding among us.
Thank you BPOA