The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the first free
African-American church in Houston, Texas, played an important role in the history
of the American South and beyond.
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| Antioch Missionary Baptist Church |
The Declaration of Emancipation, signed by President Abraham
Lincoln on September 22, 1862, declared that all slaves from states in “active
rebellion” during the Civil War be granted freedom. The Declaration, however,
did not cover Texas, which while aligned with the Confederacy, did not participate
in active rebellion.
This situation continued until after the Civil War ended,
when on June 18, 1865, General Grainger of the Union government arrived at
Galveston Bay, close to Houston, and ordered all slaves in Texas, the last
existing slaves in America, to be set free.
Reverend Jack Yates was born into slavery in Kentucky in
1828. Through self-education, he became knowledgeable in the Bible. In 1865, he
moved to Houston and started preaching in a “Brush Arbor,” a church for slaves
and freemen under trees.
A great organizer, he was quite successful and in 1868,
became ordained as a Baptist Pastor. He convinced his congregation to purchase
a piece of land in Freedman’s Town, now a part of downtown Houston, and build a
Church on it. Besides worship, he was instrumental in establishing ministries
that helped develop educational, economic and social skills.
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| Rev. Jack Yates |
However, he is most known for a movement he started. Determined
to honor the day of final emancipation of African Americans, he organized an
event which he termed “Juneteenth.” Unfortunately, opposition arose when the
City of Houston would not allow celebrations to take place in any of its parks,
due to racial opposition.
Undaunted, Rev. Yates organized the community to buy its own
park, which he named Emancipation Park, for their festivities. Since then,
Juneteenth celebrations are observed in many cities throughout America and even
in other countries.
Last year, I had the good fortune to visit the church. I was
greeted with wonderful hospitality by the congregants and deacons and attended
a presentation on the church’s history. I sat on one of the original
hand-carved pews bearing the marks of adzes of the freed men, enjoyed gospel
music and the energetic sermon of the pastor. I would encourage all visitors to
Houston to explore this wonderful institution.
Mohan Ashtakala is the author of "The Yoga Zapper," published by Books We Love.
