Latest news with #EmancipationProclamation
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
The 13th Amendment: Sold for $12 million
NEW YORK — A crowd, most of them employees with ID badges around their necks, gathered in the back of the room of Sotheby's for the last two items of Thursday's morning auction. They weren't there to see icy jewels or buzzy art being sold to the cocktail crowd. This was history. Important history. 'The 13th Amendment,' the auctioneer announced. 'Signed by Abraham Lincoln and the majority of senators and congressmen who supported this landmark legislation abolishing slavery and involuntary servitude within the United States.' The bidding opened at $8 million. It was preceded by bidding on a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, also signed by Lincoln. This was a highlight of Book Week at Sotheby's. Nerd paradise. It's the kind of thing that draws a small crowd of brainy lookie-loos with canvas totes and book dealers in tweed and seersucker to see and maybe bid on first edition Shakespeares, Galileos, Cervantes, Darwin and Adam Smith. And on Americana. This wasn't a swank auction with mysterious bidders, champagne and women in fabulous hats. Most of the bidding happened online or over the phones, with staff on risers flanking the auctioneer's podium. The auction was divided into two parts. Those participating in person raised paddles to place their bids. The only paddle that kept going up was #939, held by a man in a buzz cut, black sneakers, work-from-home clothes and a Nike Air backpack. He dropped around $800,000. 'We got the Darwin, Josephus, Audubon aaaand the Galileo,' said Callum Hill, 27, a cataloger for Peter Harrington, antiquarian book sellers from London. Landmark moments in human history were dispatched across the globe to anonymous sellers. 'The first of two Shakespeare folios,' the auctioneer announced. 'We have $95,000.' 'Bidder on the phone with $100,000.' 'Sold.' On to Portugal in 1519: Vasco da Gama's citation from the King of Portugal for his discoveries complete with a royal wax seal. The bidding went up to $120,000. 'Anything further from online? Or the phones? Otherwise, fair warning. $120,000,' the auctioneer said. 'Sold.' Finally, the premium items came up: Lots 26 and 27. There was James Monroe's letter authorizing the $2 million down payment on the Louisiana Purchase. Previously unknown to Monroe scholars, the four-page letter written in August 1803 was a hedge against Napoleon reneging on the deal. It was a basically handshake deal until Congress moved to ratify it. 'It ought not to be suspected that we are trifling with the Go[vernmen]t of France, or gaining time by an idle correspondence,' Monroe wrote, offering up all the cash that was at his disposal while he was posted in London. The letter sold for $127,000. Also up was the 1774 document establishing the Continental Association, which called for a trade ban between America and Great Britain. Some scholars argue that the Articles of Association document, an agreement among all the colonies to refuse trade relations with England, is the original founding document, merely a precursor to the Declaration of Independence. 'For many Americans the decision to accept the recommendations of Congress and endorse the Continental Association proved to be the point of no return,' historian David Ammerman wrote in his 1974 book, 'In the common cause: American response to the Coercive acts of 1774.' The browned broadside with fold marks is 'one of the most important documents of American colonial history,' Ammerman said. It sold for just over $1 million. Sotheby's is protecting the identity of the buyers who dropped millions on those documents, which are seismically important to United States history. Sotheby's had an unusual offering — both the signed Emancipation Proclamation and the resulting 13th Amendment, signed by Congress on Jan. 31, 1865. 'I never in my life, felt more certain that I was doing right than I do in signing this paper,' Lincoln said after signing the Emancipation Proclamation into law on Jan. 1, 1863. The proclamation that Sotheby's auctioned on Thursday was part of a Civil War fundraiser. One of Lincoln's favorite charities in D.C. was the United States Sanitary Commission, established in June 1861 to assist sick and wounded Union soldiers and their dependent families. It ran on contributions, and Lincoln often donated an autograph to sell at one of their fundraising fairs. For the 1864 Grand Fair, Lincoln signed dozens of the proclamations, and they sold for $10 each, according to Sotheby's. 'One of 27 surviving copies,' the auctioneer said. Eighteen of them are in collections at institutions. The auction opened at $2 million, then quickly went to to $3 million. The rivals were a mystery bidder and a woman in a burgundy dress with a paddle. Then it went to $3.5 million. 'A bidder at 3.6. And the room bidder is out,' the auctioneer said. The 13th Amendment came up. Bidding opened at $8 million. Back and forth, until it got to $12 million. 'It's $12 million on the phone,' the auctioneer said. 'Anyone watching online?' 'Here in the room?' 'It's on the phone. And will sell,' he said, scanning the room one last time. No movement. No paddles. 'At $12 million.' Polite applause. 'This one was special,' a Sotheby's employee said as she left. Lincoln signed an unknown number of commemorative copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. Historians know of 15 bearing Lincoln's signature, Sotheby's said, and more than a dozen additional exist that are signed by members of Congress, but not Lincoln. There is an empty space for his signature. He never lived to see it ratified.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pritzker, Welch celebrate Juneteenth at Hillside Memorial Park District
HILLSIDE, Ill. (WGN) — From the city to the suburbs, Juneteenth celebrations are happening all across Chicagoland. In the western suburbs, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel 'Chris' Welch joined local families at Hillside Memorial Park District for Welch's fourth annual Juneteenth celebration held at the park. Pritzker: 'Abraham Lincoln is the one who signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Our greatest president. What state was he from?' Crowd: 'Illinois!' Pritzker: 'Alright. What was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment, ending slavery?' Crowd: 'Illinois!' The event featured activities for the entire family, from a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers, to a litany of local food and art vendors for attendees to peruse, and free haircuts from James Blakes the Mobile Barber. Juneteenth celebrates and honors African Americans' journey to freedom in the United States. On June 19, 1865, word finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Texas that their emancipation was made formal, which officially brought an end to slavery nationwide. 'I just think it's really important that we keep this going and keep growing all of the traditions that we have for this,' Blakes said. 'And Juneteenth, it needs to be cherished. You know, it's a very important thing for the African American community.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
La Grange Juneteenth event features recollections of cousin of Emmett Till
The 75 or so people who gathered June 19 for the annual Juneteenth commemoration in La Grange had a chance to hear the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr. tell of some personal history. 'My story's not a pleasant story and it's not a pretty story, but it's history,' said Parker, the keynote speaker at the event at The Corral at Lyons Township High School South Campus. Parker grew up in nearby Summit and was the cousin of Emmett Till, who was murdered by Southern racists in Mississippi in 1955 for allegedly whistling at a white woman. He described the night Till was abducted and murdered, taken from their grandfather's house in the middle of the night. 'That was the last time we saw Emmett alive,' Parker said. Juneteenth, now a state and federal holiday, celebrates the day in 1865 that Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, with 2,000 troops and issued General Order No. 3, informing enslaved Texans of their freedom. Although President Abraham Lincoln officially freed all those held in slavery with the Jan. 1, 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, the actual end of the 'peculiar institution' didn't happen all at once. The actual freeing of enslaved people occurred at varying times throughout the territories where slavery existed, depending on how far the Union Army had advanced. Texas, being in what was then the far Southwest portion of the United States, was the last territory under federal command to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. While the original celebrations of Juneteenth took place in Galveston, the holiday spread over time until it became the eleventh federal holiday in 2021. In La Grange, the commemoration also featured speeches from Billy 'Che' Brooks, former deputy minister of education for the Black Panther Party; Poshlyn Nicholson, of ChaseYouth; and Ramon Lacey, of Lace Up Athletics, the organizer and sponsor of the event. 'We support the community by building complete athletes for building a stronger community,' Lacey said. 'We use physical fitness, mentorship, and community service to combat things like childhood obesity and the opportunity gap. We provide community service events like this and others.' There were poetry readings by Nicholson and students from Nazareth Academy as well as a Juneteenth trivia game involving members of the audience. Actor Corin Rogers, of 'Cooley High' had a Black history exhibit and took questions from the audience. Nicholson was passionate in her discussion of the importance of celebrating the day. 'Juneteenth is a time of remembering what happened to our people and how we were disenfranchised,' she said. … 'Myself, I was not aware of how much Juneteenth meant to our community until about five years ago.' Brian Waterman, superintendent of Lyons Township High School District 204, welcomed the visitors to the temporary home of the Juneteenth celebration. 'I'm really excited that LT is the host school for it, I've went to it the last couple years,' he said. It's usually at the Community Center, so we're happy to step up and host this amazing event. It's always an event that a wide variety of our community comes out to support. I think the organizers did a great job.' Trustee Beth Augustine was among village leaders attending the event. 'It's extremely moving and I look forward to it going forward,' she said.
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Thousands attend Waukegan Juneteenth celebration; ‘This is our day to … celebrate our freedom'
More than 1,000 people — many wearing clothing related to a message of freedom — lined a nearly two-mile stretch of Washington Street in Waukegan Saturday, watching bands, drill teams, dancers and other participants in Lake County's inaugural Juneteenth parade. Dorothy Fullilove wore a shirt with a bold '1865' printed on it, signifying the year slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they were no longer someone else's property two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery. 'It's when everyone was free,' Fullilove said. 'This is our day to remember what happened and celebrate our freedom.' 'It's great to see a lot of people out here,' added Kathryn Young. 'We're here to remember what happened long ago.' Young and Fullilove were among the more than 1,000 people watching Lake County's inaugural Juneteenth parade, and over 3,500 participating in the Juneteenth Lake County Parade and Festival Saturday in Waukegan, celebrating the June 19 Juneteenth holiday. Sylvia England, the founder of the African American Museum at the England Manor in Waukegan and one of the festivities' organizers, said the events were held Saturday rather than on the holiday itself to give as many people as possible an opportunity to partake. The museum's van led the parade. 'There was a lot of engagement,' England said. 'I felt like our ancestors created the path, and we literally rode down it. We had people from the very young to the very old. It was a street festival. The community could come outside and socialize.' Becoming a local holiday five years ago when the Waukegan Park District, the city of Waukegan, Waukegan Township and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 passed resolutions, and a national holiday the year afterwards, Juneteenth celebrations have grown in recent years. After a countywide festival last year in North Chicago, the parade was new in 2025, as well as the selection of a Mr. Juneteenth, Truth Thurman, a 2025 Waukegan High School graduate, and Ms. Juneteenth, Jamira Johnson, a Warren Township High School sophomore. Thurman, who will attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering in the fall, said he hopes to be an ambassador to young African Americans. He considered his selection an honor as he and Johnson rode together in a convertible in the parade. 'I want to be able to show who we are as a people,' Thurman said. A member of the Black Student Union at Warren, Johnson said she learned of the opportunity to become Ms. Juneteenth through the organization. She submitted a video to festival organizers explaining what the opportunity would mean to her. 'Juneteenth is a special day, and I am proud to represent the young people,' she said. Brandon Ewing, a former District 60 Board of Education president and another event organizer, said he is happy with the way the celebration of Juneteenth has grown each year in Lake County. 'This is important for culture and community to have this celebration,' he said. 'We are showcasing Black achievements and Black potential. We want this to help lead to peace in our community.' Among the people walking in the parade was state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove. For her, the message of Juneteenth is freedom, not just the liberation of slaves, but for everyone, which brings 'resilience' to the community. 'Juneteenth is also about strength, resilience and triumph for the Black community,' she said. Waukegan Township Supervisor Marc Jones, who walked in the parade with other township personnel, said he is happy to see the growth of the Juneteenth holiday in the city and throughout Lake County. 'This is about unity, freedom and equality,' he said. 'It is something we should all be able to enjoy.' Anton Mathews, a member of the Park District's Board of Commissioners and its past president, marched along Washington Street as well. He is proud of the fact that the Park District was the first governmental entity to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. 'It is a testament to the awareness of the day that so many people are now able to enjoy it,' Mathews said. 'It's about unity and freedom, something we should all enjoy.' Starting as the parade ended was the Juneteenth Festival with 10 food trucks and 27 vendors representing merchants, other businesses and community organizations on two blocks of Genesee Street, as well as a soundstage. People filled the streets and lined the sidewalks, partaking of not just the food trucks but refreshments offered by the restaurants and bars along the street. Unable to attend the parade or festival this year was Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham. He was attending the U.S. Mayors Conference in Tampa, which ended Sunday. He called the decision to go there rather than celebrate with the community, 'difficult but necessary.' 'In this time of uncertain funding and rapid change, it was important to be in the room with other city leaders from across the country — sharing strategies, learning best practices, and advocating for resources that will ultimately benefit our community, including how we support and celebrate events like Juneteenth in the future,' Cunningham said in an email.
Black America Web
5 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
D.L. Hughley Joins Fort Worth's Juneteenth Walk for Freedom
Source: Michael S. Schwartz / Getty D.L. Hughley joined the annual Opal's Walk for Freedom in Fort Worth, Texas, to commemorate Juneteenth. The event, inspired by the tireless efforts of Dr. Opal Lee, the 'Grandmother of Juneteenth,' celebrates the abolition of slavery and the resilience of the African American community. RELATED: 10 Powerful Speeches on Juneteenth and the Fight for Racial Justice RELATED: Trump Complains About Juneteenth, X Shows Off His Hypocrisy This year's walk saw hundreds of participants, including families, lawmakers, and community leaders, marching the symbolic 2.5 miles. The distance represents the two-and-a-half years it took for enslaved people in Texas to learn of their freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation. Although Dr. Lee, now 98, was unable to attend due to health reasons, her legacy and mission were palpable throughout the event. D.L. Hughley emphasized the importance of preserving and celebrating history, especially in the face of efforts to diminish its significance. 'So much of our history is under attack right now,' Hughley remarked. 'Juneteenth and us celebrating this day nationally is a long time coming. It's about educating people on what it means.' Congressman Marc Veasey echoed these sentiments, highlighting Juneteenth as a cornerstone of American history. 'It's not just Black history; it's Texas history, it's American history,' he stated, underscoring the need for continued education and reflection. Dr. Opal Lee's journey to make Juneteenth a national holiday began at age 89, culminating in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. Her advocacy remains a call to action, urging people to reflect on the question, 'Are we free yet?' Her mantra, 'None of us are free if we're not all free,' continues to inspire. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of resilience, progress, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. Events like Opal's Walk for Freedom ensure that this history is honored and shared with future generations. SOURCE | Fox 4 Dallas/Fort Worth SEE ALSO
