juneteenth {june 20, 2022}

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a federal holiday. 

Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas, a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long over due. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.

Paul Laurence is one of Dayton's "favorite sons." He was born on June 27, 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, two formerly enslaved people from Kentucky. He became one of the first influential Black poets in American literature. Dunbar’s literary body is regarded as an impressive representation of Black life in turn-of-the-century America. In The Strength of Gideon (1900), he continued to recount Black life both before and after slavery. Reviewers at the time favored his pre-emancipation stories full of humor and sentiment, while ignoring more volatile accounts of abuse and injustice. More recently these latter stories have gained greater recognition from critics eager to substantiate Dunbar’s opposition to racism.

Paul Laurence Dunbar's name is widely recognized around Dayton with roads and schools named after him. His father served in the Civil War and is buried at the Dayton National Cemetery. Paul Laurence Dunbar is buried on the other side of town in the beautiful Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. He is also recognized at RiverScape Metro Park at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Walk where some of his poems are placed in the sidewalk landings as you walk down to the Great Miami River.