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"A portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth,” Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally learned that they were free from the institution of slavery. But, woefully, this was almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation; the Civil War was still going on, and when it ended, Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger traveled to Texas and issued an order stating that all enslaved people were free, establishing a new relationship between “former masters and slaves” as “employer and hired labor.” As much as Juneteenth represents freedom, it also represents how emancipation was tragically delayed for enslaved people in the deepest reaches of the Confederacy." - "What is Juneteenth?" (Vox)
Transy Library's Guide to Anti-Racism Resources
Credit for guide layout and initial resource lists, as well as some wording, to the L.A. Beeghly Library at Juniata College
Juneteenth Resources
Juneteenth Resources
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This guide is intended as a starting point for educating yourself about Juneteenth and slavery in the United States. There are many other resources available online.
If you have any questions about a resource that you've found, you can contact a librarian and they will help you assess the source.
- Juneteenth.comWondering how to get your community involved in celebrating Juneteenth? Check out this page from Juneteenth.com for suggestions. Juneteenth.com also provides historical background for this important marker in history.
- Juneteenth Livestream (RSVP)Hosted by the NAACP, and streaming live Youtube, RSVP to watch "Juneteenth: Black Family Reunion."
- How We JuneteenthNew York Times feature on Juneteenth, with articles and art by various authors, all around the idea of Juneteenth as a celebration, and what that means.
- Emancipation ProclamationOn January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This research guide from the Library of Congress compiles digital materials, links to related external websites, and a print bibliography.
- What is Juneteenth? by Henry Louis Gates Jr (The Root)A well-written and informative article about Juneteenth and it's positive, ongoing effects in America.
- Juneteenth Music FestivalThe 2020 Juneteenth Music Festival invites all to join, online, for a positive, educational and entertaining day celebrating African American history and the mission to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
- Stay Black and LiveJuneteenth 2020: Stay Black and Live is a virtual Juneteenth festival. A collaboration with several Black organizations in Austin’s historic East side (G.E.A.Y.A., Six Square, CarverMuseumATX, Carver Library, and Jump On It), this year’s Juneteenth celebration emphasizes not only the timeless themes of freedom and perseverance, but also recognizes the unprecedented times we’re currently living through.
- [Podcast] The Truth About Juneteenth NPRJune 19th is traditionally embraced as the day in 1863 when slaves in Texas learned they'd been freed. But historian Hari Jones, Assistant Director of the African-American Civil War Museum in Washington, D.C., says many are misinformed about the true significance of the holiday.
- Juneteenth: A Fact SheetThis fact sheet assists congressional offices with work related to Juneteenth. It contains sample speeches and remarks
from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources. {To view, sign in to your Transy account] - The Coleman Scrapbooks[From Transy Special Collections] The Coleman Scrapbooks consist of approximately 60 volumes. Coleman began keeping them in 1930 and they include many things that struck his interest. Most of the subject content has to do with Kentucky history with a focus on Lexington especially. Much of the material comes from news clippings but some are actual historical documents and signatures, sometimes from his grandfather's papers, which he glued into his pages. For instance beginning on page 73 of the first volume we see a collection of signatures that have been clipped from their original context. On page 100 of the first volume there appears to be a contemporary copy of the indenture that sets aside acreage for the trustees of the town of Lexington dated 1795. The scrapbooks end with Coleman's death in 1983. When looking at the Index, you can search for documents specifically relating to slavery.
Juneteenth by Call Number: PS3555.L625 J86 2000"Tell me what happened while there's still time," demands the dying Senator Adam Sunraider to the itinerate Negro preacher whom he calls Daddy Hickman. As a young man, Sunraider was Bliss, an orphan taken in by Hickman and raised to be a preacher like himself. Bliss's history encompasses the joys of young southern boyhood; bucolic days as a filmmaker, lovemaking in a field in the Oklahoma sun. And behind it all lies a mystery: how did this chosen child become the man who would deny everything to achieve his goals? Brilliantly crafted, moving, wise, Juneteenth is the work of an American master.
After Slavery by Moves beyond broad generalizations concerning black life during Reconstruction in order to address the varied experiences of freed slaves across the South. This collection examines urban unrest in New Orleans and Wilmington, North Carolina, loyalty among former slave owners and slaves in Mississippi, armed insurrection along the Georgia coast, racial violence throughout the region, and much more in order to provide a well-rounded portrait of the era.
The Fire Next Time by Call Number: E185.61 .B195 1993At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin's early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document from the iconic author of If Beale Street Could Talk and Go Tell It on the Mountain. It consists of two "letters," written on the occasion of the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, that exhort Americans, both black and white, to attack the terrible legacy of racism.
Juneteenth by Learn about how freedom came to the slaves in June 1865.
Juneteenth by Easy-to-read text paired with colorful photos and informative captions introduces readers to a meaningful holiday, Juneteenth. Readers will learn the history of Juneteenth, including slavery in the United States, the American Civil War, and the birth of Juneteenth as a Texas state holiday. Associated symbols such as the color red and the Juneteenth flag are described, as well as traditions including parades and picnics, music and games, and special foods and drinks. This title concludes with a full page explaining the fight for freedom and equality for African Americans in the United States. Features include a table of contents, a glossary with phonetic spellings, and an index. Buddy BOOKS is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Juneteenth by Every year on June 19th, people of all backgrounds celebrate the day that African Americans were freed from slavery in the United States. The occasion is marked by picnics and even rodeos that celebrate famous black cowboys! Young readers will be fascinated to learn about the history of the Civil War and the law that freed the slaves.
