Story by Clarksville NAACP
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville Branch NAACP invites the public to the 2014 Jubilee Day Service that will be held on Jan. 1, 2014 at the Green Hill Church and Outreach Ministries located at 311 Walker Street, Clarksville, TN. The service will start at 11:00 a.m.
History has declared that the Watch Night Service, normally held on Dec. 31 of each year, took on a different meaning during the Civil War. Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Senator Charles Sumner, Senator Thaddeus Stevens and other abolitionists worked to encourage President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to free enslaved Africans in the Confederate states that rebelled against the Union. On that night, Dec. 31, 1862, many enslaved African men and women and their families gathered to hear “the word.” Then at midnight in many African-American churches, “the word” came that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. After midnight, African men and women, who along with their ancestors had experienced over 244 years of slavery in America, began thanking God for the dawn of freedom.
The next day, Jan. 1, 1863, became known as “Jubilee Day” to the newly freed African men, women and children. They enjoyed a freedom feast of collard greens, yams, black-eyed peas, roasted meats pies and cakes. They sang songs and played games of all kind as they reminisced on slavery’s past and mused on freedom’s future.
In today’s service we give thanks for the many blessing that have been bestowed upon our brothers and sisters as we strive to reach new heights in the political, social, and judicial realms of our society. We still celebrate with the preached Word. We also incorporate words of encouragement from our leaders at the local and state levels of government. We would appreciate it if you would set aside time to come join with us as we make anew our pledge to work to make life better for all citizens of Tennessee and states throughout the United State of America.