Juneteenth is a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, enslaved African Americans in Texas were not granted freedom until June 19, 1865. The Smithsonian Institution considers Juneteenth to be America’s second Independence Day. Celebrations, including cookouts, parades and festivals, are held around the country to mark the day. Here are some titles to help us learn more about the importance of, and to celebrate the joy of Juneteenth. Be sure to also check out hoopla and Kanopy’s amazing Juneteenth digital collections.

Book cover of "Juneteenth: A Novel" by Ralph Ellison, featuring abstract geometric shapes in shades of orange and yellow, with angled white text.

Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison

Published: 1999
Formats Available: Print
Call Number: FICTION ELLISON

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In Washington D.C., in the 1950s, Senator Sunraider is mortally wounded by an assassin’s bullet. From his deathbed, he calls out for Hickman, an old black minister. As the two men relive their memories of a shared history, they gradually reveal the secrets of their past.

Book cover of "On Juneteenth" by Annette Gordon-Reed, featuring red and black text on a beige, map-patterned background. Subtitle notes the author as a Pulitzer Prize winner.

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Published: 2021
Formats Available: Print, eBook, eAudiobook
Call Number: 394.263 GOR

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In this intricately woven tapestry of American history, dramatic family chronicle and searing episodes of memoir, the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas in the 1850s, recounts the origins of Juneteenth and explores the legacies of the holiday that remain with us.

Book cover for "Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration" by Edward T. Cotham, Jr., featuring a historic photo of Black musicians and a red background with a star design.

Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration by Edward T. Cotham

Published: 2021
Formats Available: Print, eBook
Call Number: 394.263 COT

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Juneteenth has been touted as a national day celebrating the end of slavery. Observances from coast to coast have turned this event into part of the national conversation about race, slavery and how Americans understand, acknowledge and explain what has been called the national ‘original sin.”
But, why Juneteenth? Where did this ‘celebration,’ which promises to become a national ‘holiday’ come from? What is the origin story? What are the facts, and legends, around this important day in the nation’s history?

The cover of "Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations" by Nicole A. Taylor, featuring two hands holding glasses with a red drink.

Watermelon & Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations by Nicole A Taylor

Published: 2022
Formats Available: Print, eBook
Call Number: 641.59296073 TAY

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All-day cook-outs with artful salads, bounteous dessert spreads, and raised glasses of “red drink” are essential to Juneteenth gatherings. In Watermelon and Red Birds, Nicole puts jubilation on the main stage. As a master storyteller and cook, she bridges the traditional African-American table and 21st-century flavors in stories and recipes. Nicole synthesizes all the places we’ve been, all the people we have come from, all the people we have become, and all the culinary ideas we have embraced.