Juneteenth

Sunday, June 19th is Juneteenth, a newly-recognized federal holiday, and a day set aside to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We are pleased to offer a wide selection of titles to read in honor of this day, from children’s books about the holiday itself, to hard-hitting adult titles exploring the African American experience.

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free is a children’s book that tells the true story of a Texan woman who fought for recognition of this day in her home state. Juneteenth for Mazie is a title written and illustrated by award-winning author and artist Floyd Cooper. All Different Now tells the story of people who began their day as slaves, and ended it as free people.

For adults, Four Hundred Souls is a collection of writings delving into the 400-year history of African Americans. The Warmth of Other Suns is about the exodus of millions of people from the southern states to the north. How to Be an Antiracist asks us to think about what an antiracist society might look like, and how we can play an active role in building it.

For those that prefer digital options, Hoopla has a Juneteenth collection of books and audiobooks available at your fingertips, and Libby/Overdrive has an African American fiction collection as well as a nonfiction collection.