Each year on June 19th, we commemorate Juneteenth, an important holiday marking the official end of slavery in the United States and celebrating the hard-won freedom of Black people.
President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, abolishing slavery nationwide, but its enforcement was not done right away or done everywhere. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and finally enforced the proclamation, freeing the last enslaved people in the Confederacy. This momentous occasion sparked immediate celebrations among the newly freed individuals, and we continue this tradition today.
Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of slavery’s conclusion and provides an opportunity to honor the remarkable achievements and enduring contributions of Black people throughout history.
There are numerous ways to participate in Juneteenth celebrations, including attending local events, engaging in art projects or preparing traditional foods, visiting museums that highlight Black history and culture, delving deeper into the rich history and significance of Juneteenth, and reading books about the holiday.
For those in the DeKalb area eager to learn more, the DeKalb Public Library offers a wealth of resources and books dedicated to Juneteenth. The library will be closed on Juneteenth, so make sure you visit us before (or after!) the holiday.
Click on the links below to check out one of these books to learn more about Juneteenth. If you have any questions, you can call us at (815) 756-9568 ext. 3350 or email us at [email protected].
- What is Juneteenth? by Kirsti Jewel
- Holiday History: Juneteenth by J.P. Miller
- All Different Now by Angela Johnson
- Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom by Sharon D. Wyeth
- A Flag for Juneteenth by Kim Taylor
- The Story Behind Juneteenth by Jack Reader
- Free At Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid-Rolle
- Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
How will you celebrate Juneteenth?
