Virtual Book Display: Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.

When Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued the above order, he had no idea that, in establishing the Union Army’s authority over the people of Texas, he was also establishing the basis for a holiday, “Juneteenth” (“June” plus “nineteenth”), today the most popular annual celebration of emancipation from slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth celebrations around the world mark the day enslaved Texans were finally notified of their freedom 155 years ago

The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Formally abolishing slavery in the United States, the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865.

Although Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, the Civil War then raging prevented it being enacted in much of the American South until months or even years later. Emancipation Day, or Juneteenth, is a celebration to mark the eventual country-wide realization of the decree — on June 19, 1865, when around 250,000 enslaved people were finally declared free in Texas — the last state in the US to be reached by the Union Army, commanded by General Gordon Granger, meaningfully accompanied, as historian Elizabeth Hayes Turner notes, by “two transports of colored troops”.

Two Republican senators have filed an amendment to a piece of legislation that would replace Columbus Day with Juneteenth as a new federal holiday.

The rich, and often hard to believe story of Juneteenth is about to be immortalized in a new art installation opening in Galveston this June.

Director and Fort Worth native Channing Godfrey Peoples talks about her new film.

Al Edwards, known to some as “Mr. Juneteenth,” helped recognize the abolition of slavery as a statewide holiday.

The weeklong celebration commemorating the end of slavery kicks off this month in Emancipation Park.

If you didn’t learn about it in school or from your community, this one’s for you.

Texas is the birthplace of Juneteenth, but many residents downplay the state’s role in slavery.

The Smithsonian examines the continuing legacy of Juneteenth.

It’s time for America to truly grapple with its legacy of slavery.

Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, American slavery came to an end and a celebration of freedom was born.

How a Texan holiday became a national tradition.

The connection between slavery, child-parent separation, and Texas today.

Juneteenth commemorates the day the last enslaved people were emancipated in the United States on June 19, 1865. Celebrate fiction and nonfiction by African American authors that continue to shape our culture, celebrate liberation, and acknowledge the ongoing work towards freedom and equality still necessary over 150 years later.

Our vision is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is now open to the public. As we begin a gradual, phased reopening for the museum, we’re putting safety first with enhanced measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors, volunteers, and staff.

After 155 years, Juneteenth, a celebration of the emancipation of enslaved Americans, is being acknowledged as a holiday by corporations and state governments across the country. Today, we consider why, throughout its history, Juneteenth has gained prominence at moments of pain in the struggle for black liberation in America. We also ask: What does freedom mean now?

Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the abolition of slavery here in the United States. Every year on June 19th families come together to celebrate the resilience of our ancestors who survived and persevered during one of the darkest times of our nation’s history. We take time to reflect on where we are as a family, a community, and a nation and how we can work together to better live out our country’s values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Listen in to hear the history of Juneteenth and how your family can take part in this powerful celebration.

Juneteenth is getting unusually widespread attention this year, as Americans protest police brutality and racism. But some Americans have, for years, celebrated it as the day that marks our ancestors' emancipation.

Epic stories of Black people who fought for their liberty and transformed America after the Civil War. Using first-hand accounts from diaries, newspapers, speeches, and letters, this is a narrated docu-drama about the failures and successes of the Reconstruction era, told by those who made it happen.

Although, the Emancipation Proclamation - which changed the federal legal status of 3.5 Million people from slave to free - was signed on January 1, 1863, news of their change in status did not reach the enslaved people in the southern states immediately. June 19, 1865 was the day the last group of enslaved people were set free in Galveston, Texas. The truth is, many Americans do not know about Juneteenth. This is part of the reason why ABC's hit show Black-ish finally decided to tackle the topic last fall. Actress Jenifer Lewis, who plays Grandma Ruby on Black-ish joins us to discuss why having Juneteenth in the "mainstream" is important.

Today is the Second American Independence day! Juneteenth. A day of glorious black people remembrance and celebration. Hear the Peas discuss what Juneteenth is all about, the ways they celebrate Juneteenth, and the culinary past of the holiday. Grab yo grandmama’s collard greens and sit right on back til the itis takes hold!

Civic engagement means promoting the quality of life in a community through both political and nonpolitical processes. It teaches many different executive skills such as: grit, self-control, zest, social intelligence, gratitude, optimism, and curiosity. These skills aid students well into the future as they finish degrees and enter the workforce.