06/20/2024
The day is winding down, but Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church is about to unfold at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. And actually we began this evening with an enthusiastic gathering of early arrivals for a celebration of Juneteenth. Thanks to a stellar group who inspired us with testimonies, history and song. (As we made it through three stanzas of LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING - I realized I really need to brush up on stanza two. That song was not nearly as well known back in 1981 when I graduated from Saint Paul School of Theology.
As I was driving in and listening to a radio interview about Juneteenth, a strange memory occurred to me.
Way back in 1968 my dad told me that the "brand new" Cokesbury store in downtown Houston had an assortment of books at really cheap prices as a part of their grand opening. I found a new copy of a Texas history book that was a few years old. (Yes I am that kind of a nerd.)
I was taking Texas history at the time at South Houston Intermediate, so I showed it off to my history teacher Mr. Reed (who I would encounter 36 years later when I realized he was a member of First UMC Pasadena).
That summer I enjoyed reading the book and I noticed a question at the end of one of the chapters. "WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?"
That one stumped me, so I flipped back through the chapter and could find nothing about it. I probably slept on it and tried again later, and still could not find it. That was the only question in the entire book for which the answer could not be found.
I giggled to think that the book writers had messed up so stupidly, and my Dad filled me in on what Juneteenth was.
Honestly that memory jumped back to me today and suddenly I realized the truth. That was no innocent mistake. Not at all. In my wiser years I now realize what must have happened. Some one hundred years after Juneteenth - give or take - an editor had removed the reference to Juneteenth in the textbook, but inadvertently left the question at the end of the chapter. (Or maybe...just maybe...a subversive assistant editor had left the question in there!)
Lest this seem like ancient history, we live in a time when Florida schools are cutting and pasting textbooks to remove references to racism that might seem too political. Schools in Virginia have been re-renamed (is that a word) to honor Confederate heroes.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
The original event honoring Juneteenth took place in Galveston, Texas in 1865.
Ten days ago, Betsy and I worshipped in a church in Galveston - Central UMC.
In 1978, Betsy and I were married at another church in Galveston - Moody UMC.
Seventy years ago next month (July 16, 1954) my parents were married in Houston and they honeymooned in Galveston, and attended Central (the same church we were at earlier this month.
Wow there were a lot of thoughts swirling in my mind tonight as we launched annual conference with an observance of Juneteenth. I'd better get some sleep.
