
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 24, 1990                   TAG: 9006220253
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Robert Rivenbark
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

JUBILEE DAY MARKS FREEDOM FOR BLACKS

American blacks celebrated 127 years of freedom last week on Jubilee Day, which commemorates the Jan. 1, 1863, signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

President Lincoln's proclamation freed no slaves immediately. It affected only slaves in Confederate states, and it was aimed at instigating slave rebellions in the South. But by the close of the Civil War, the proclamation had effectively brought an end to slavery.

Not an official national holiday, Jubilee Day is celebrated on different days in different states. Some 15 dates have sprung up around the country.

Jan. 1 is observed in some states to celebrate the day in 1801 that foreign slave trading was banned in the U.S. July 4 marks the 1827 date when slavery was outlawed in New York state. Aug. 1 marks the day in 1834 the English abolished West Indies slavery. April 16 marks the day in 1862 when slavery was abolished in Washington, D.C. Nov. 1 marks the day in 1864 Maryland abolished slavery.

But freedom was a long time coming, and total freedom from prejudice is yet to be. Two residents of the New River Valley hold different opinions on the lot of U.S. blacks. Both agree conditions have improved in their lifetimes, but they disagree on whether overt or subtle discrimination is still with us.

by CNB