History tells us that in 1865 President Lincoln signed a bill that finally outlawed slavery.  But black people were still enslaved in the south for some time because of plantation owners are not willing to give up their free labor. In 1867, General Granger finally got the word to the last of the slaves in Galveston Texas.  It almost set off another Civil War. The president even had to send  U.S. troops to Texas to force slave owners to release their slaves. It's important that we know as much of our history as possible so as not to repeat it.  It's our duty to make sure we pass our stories down because they are not always written down. This festival helps keep our history current and gives our people some pride.