Juneteenth - PCC Library

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, is “the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official January 1, 1863.” (from Juneteenth.com).

Juneteenth is seen as a time to gather with family and community, to honor the present and to reflect on a shared history and tradition. In 2021, Juneteenth became a Federal holiday.

Featured books and ebooks

An act to amend Title 5, United States Code, to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday
Features a number of laws and statutes including public law 117-17.

Juneteenth: the story behind the celebration
Learn the important facts, and legends, around this important day in the Nation’s history.

On Juneteenth, Annette Gordon-Reed (ebook)
A commemoration of Juneteenth and the fraught legacies of slavery that still persist, On Juneteenth is stark reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing.

Let’s celebrate Emancipation Day & Juneteenth, Barbara DeRubertis
Every year on both Emancipation Day and Juneteenth we honor and continue their fight for freedom and equality.

Remembering Black Voices on Juneteenth
A series of 6 interactive slides. Set up your personal subscription to the NYTimes.com through PCC Library to view this resource.

Watermelon & red birds: a cookbook for Juneteenth and Black celebrations
A celebration of the traditional African American table combined with twenty-first century flavors with stories and recipes from cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor.