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Juneteenth, celebrated as a federal holiday on June 19, marks the day when slavery ended in the United States after the American Civil War. On June 19, 1865, federal officers ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas.
These were the last enslaved people who received their freedom in the United States. These people had not been told, and were unaware of their legal status as "free," until that date.
Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, and was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983.
Rev. Robert Hamilton, a native of Rutherford County, who is head of the African American Heritage Museum of Rutherford County, believes Juneteenth is an important day of celebration, and something that all Americans should remember.
"It recognizes the day, when all those who lived in slavery, were finally made free," Hamilton said recently. "The last of those slaves, in Galveston, Texas, received their freedom June 19, 1865. This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation."
Freedom, he says, was not easy to come by. Slavery was an immoral institution, which ultimately led to civil war.
"We have to know our history, and remember our history, in order to learn from it and move forward," Hamilton said.
Hamilton, who is 79 years old, knows his history, and lived through the segregated south, Jim Crow era, and the fight for civil rights.
He grew up on a farm about eight miles north of Rutherfordton.
"We didn't come to town much, when I was growing up," he shared. "But when we did, you know where you could and could not go."
He remembers there were certain restaurants that did not allow African Americans to enter. He remembers some that did welcome their business, though they usually would go through a back door of the building, and receive their food separately.
He also remembers how the Courthouse in Rutherfordton, had separate bathrooms for African American people and white people, as well as separate water fountains.
"Years ago there was a bus station in Rutherfordton. People from different races had to sit in different sections," Hamilton said.
"But I also remember places, like Holland's Grocery on Main Street in Rutherfordton, that willingly served all people in the community who wanted to shop. They did not discriminate, even before the civil rights era," he said.
Hamilton is from a family of farmers on his mother's side, and landowners. His dad worked in the lumber business.
He attended local segregated schools, and graduated from Carver High School in Spindale. He later graduated from North Carolina A & T in Greensboro in fall, 1969 with a degree in horticulture.
"My first job out of college was teaching vocational agriculture in Burke County," Hamilton said.
The students were all white.
He later worked for the United States Department of Agriculture, for about 18 years. He worked as county executive director of the USDA office in Lincoln County for 15 years. Hamilton was among the first African Americans to hold that position in North Carolina.
He later held positions in the private sector, all related to agriculture.
Hamilton has served as a pastor for about 40 years, currently at a church in Lincolnton.
"I have been very blessed, with opportunities," Hamilton says.
He believes looking at the past, enables Americans to see how the nation has evolved.
For the black community, he said the past "...shows how far we have come. There is reason for hope."
Hamilton has a strong faith, and a deep interest in history. He has visited west Africa on several occasions with ministry groups. On these trips, Hamilton went to some of the old forts, called "slave castles," mostly in present-day Ghana, where captured Africans were forced onto slave ships bound for America.
"The conditions were horrible. There was very little light in the dungeons where they were held," Hamilton explained. "Really, the conditions were worse than where livestock would be kept."
Those who tried to escape, were recaptured and put into even smaller, cramped cells, often left to die.
"Being able to visit these sites today...It's a gripping experience," he said.
Knowing that so many African Americans can trace their history back to slavery, is sobering, Hamilton says.
"Life is far better. But we have a ways to go," he said. "But there is hope. Jesus Christ came to set the captives free."
"We all have to be vigilant, and work to make sure that we all, as Americans, have freedom," Hamilton said.
Faith, he believes, is what "keeps people going. Our faith gives us hope for a better future."
"The church has historically been the heart of the Black community," he continued. "It is our foundation. The church is a place of worship, fellowship, and a source of strength and encouragement."
The African American Heritage Museum, under Hamilton's direction, recently created a book showcasing historic Black churches of Rutherford and Polk counties. The book is now available for sale, in support of the museum.
The museum used to be located in the former Dunbar Elementary School building in Forest City, but it is now seeking a new permanent location.
"We still have our exhibits and artifacts, and are still doing some programming," Hamilton said. "But we are seeking a new home."
Hamilton and his wife Martha reside in the Green Hill community. They have two adult children, as well as four grandchildren.
Hamilton hopes that all citizens took a moment on Juneteenth, to remember that freedom for all, is important. And it is fragile, and something that must be cared for.
"Freedom is for all of us," he added.
For more information on the African American Heritage Museum of Rutherford County, or the book, contact Hamilton at 704-460-4336.
