10 Juneteenth Stories That Prove We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

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This is my Granny Cellie. Her full name was Celia Chandler. She was a former slave on the WheatLand Plantation. I have been hearing so many stories about her, how she became head chef and how her recipes made a name for her, how she would hand polish each crystal on the chandelier in the parlor, how she carried our family through some dark times. Today, being Juneteenth, a day we celebrate the legal abolition of slavery, I remember her and speak her name. When people say slavery was so long ago, I remember her. When people attempt to whitewash the contributions of Black people in this country, I think of her. I have a photo to prove slavery actually wasn’t that long ago, and that as far as we have come, we have so much further to go. Let’s remember that and how this nation owes an immense debt to Black People, like my Granny Cellie. . . . . . #reclaimedlivin #browngirlbloggers #blackgirlswhoblog #blackswhoblog #blackbloggersunited #blackbloggers #blackcreatives #juneteenth #freedom #blacklivesmatter #blackhistory #americanhistory #staywoke #familyhistory #throwback #liveauthentic #ourstory #fashionblogger #Styleblogger #bblogger #lifestyleblogger #phillyblogger #weremember #sankofa

A post shared by WHITNEY ALESE (@thereclaimed) on Jun 19, 2019 at 6:15am PDT

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Freedom. ✊ Whenever I hear the word freedom, I think of my great grandmother Mary Bailey born on November 22, 1891. Her mother Jane Appling (I’m STILL researching Appling, Georgia and why that city’s name has significance in my blood line) was born a slave and was freed at the age of 6. My great grandmother was the first freed woman in our lineage on American soil and in her time on this earth- she accomplished so much. She bought 6 homes in Augusta, Ga. 2 of which we still own TODAY. She organized, was a poll worker and took my mother and aunt Jane with her to the polls and gave them their first jobs as volunteers registering people to vote. When I hear stories about the shrewd businesswoman, mother and leader she was, I always smile. She was an Eastern Star, a faithful member of her organization’s and her church and could be seen walking up and down the street collecting her rents. She never took shit from anyone regardless of the times she lived in and it is in that spirit and legacy that I celebrate Juneteenth today. 154 years after the announcement that the slaves were freed in Texas- I stand as a free woman not accepting of shit from anyone. I stand on the back of this mini giant who planted seeds that I and my descendants may one day eat off the fruit from her trees. Thank you Bubba for your legacy, for your tireless commitment to freedom in deed, in action and in thought. I celebrate you today….. #gotfreedom #Juneteenth #NextNation #legacy #deeds #ownership #realestate #votingrights #Ibragdifferent #IcomefromsomethingGREAT #nochoicebuttobeGREAT #weallwegot #CMB #MRM #family #Bailey #Wilburn #Sapp #Dorsey #Henley #Jennings #Key #Alston #TMC #wegotNeXt

A post shared by Sylvia K. Alston (@allaboutsyl) on Jun 19, 2019 at 8:12am PDT

I’ve shared this story before but the father of my great grandfather, Papa OJ, worked this East TX land as a slave. Now, my Uncle Bubba owns 44 acres of it. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/K4ED4KLTKW

— Gennette Cordova (@GNCordova) June 19, 2019

 

Today is #Juneteenth let’s put it into perspective. Of the 13 people pictured in this family photo, MY family photo, only the three young boys were never slaves. One of those boys is my great grandfather. I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams! pic.twitter.com/2wdCmrQg5L

— Karissa Culbreath (@KarissaPhD) June 19, 2019

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On #JUNETEENTH, a story….

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My Great Great Grandfather Rev. Pompey Lavallie was enslaved
as a boy.

My Great Grandmother Rosa Lavallie made a quilt with patches from his “britches.”

My Grandma Rosa Lee put me to sleep under his quilt
as a boy.

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Was slavery that long ago? pic.twitter.com/FYFRmCkXMm

— Rev. Cornell William Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) June 19, 2019

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My dad was AMAZING! 1st generation sharecropper, he was the child of slaves, who were from Georgia ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Sharecroppers was the generation following slavery. This group was “allowed” to stay on the property, most of the time their former slave plantation quarters, in exchange for the crops they produced (sound familiar).⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ With the great migration, his favorite aunt grabbed him a few siblings and brought them north. He worked in the J&L steel mill for several years, then taking what he learned and opened his own garage, becoming Aliquippa’s friendly neighborhood mechanic ⠀⠀ This Juneteenth I honor Willie Frank Davis Sr. Aka Frank aka France aka Junebug aka Frankie Poo (as my mom affectionately called him lol).⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ He was such an amazing father, even with limited formal education he taught me sooo much & gave me the world. He passed May 18, 2009 at the age of 74, but my siblings and I carry him with us daily and in every way we can.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ It’s because of him I am!!!⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Thanks @thereclaimed for inspiring this post ….Who do you celebrate this Juneteenth 2019?⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ This is #evolutionNprogress ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ #juneteenth #opt2evolve #becauseofthemwecan #blackfatherhood⠀⠀ #entrepreneurship #southern #sharecroppers #freedom #bornofaprince #daughterofaking ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ @blacklovepage @becauseofthem @blackandmarried @blackparentingmagazine

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A post shared by Alexia “Lexi” Azogu (@milestone_pros) on Jun 19, 2019 at 8:30am PDT

This is my grandmother. Born in Goodwill, Texas 106 years ago. She is very much alive. Her grandfather was born enslaved and was freed on #Juneteenth. She can recall family accounts of slavery. This is recent history. American history. #Reparations pic.twitter.com/9fRnbafzQZ

— Sonya Childress (@SonyaChildress) June 19, 2019

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In commemorating this day, I share images of my great-great grandmother born a slave & died free and her son my great grandfather, a son of the plantation owner, who went on to own his own farm as a free man. Their endurance & dignity are two of my greatest prides. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/155DEV6ghY

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— Charniele Herring (@C_Herring) June 19, 2019

 

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Happy Juneteenth!! My great-great-great grandmother’s official freedom papers! I am forever grateful for you! ✊ pic.twitter.com/GHkCCwk6PL

— Sativa Princess ‍♂️✨ (@_angelesque) June 19, 2019

#Juneteenth

Daddy with his Great Grandmother Eliza in Gonzales TX in the early 1920s. Born around 1830, formerly enslaved throughout the South, probably was in Texas for the 1st Juneteenth. She was also the GGM of Harlem Renaissance’s Gwendolyn Bennett. @BWheeler_PhD pic.twitter.com/TiMWSJ40Xr

— GloriaDea (@GloriaDea) June 19, 2019

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