Juneteeth (bulgn (123RF))
In 2021, Juneteenth was signed into law as a federal holiday. But what is it exactly? When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it stated, “All persons held as slaves are, and henceforth, shall be free.” On June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was issued, along with a large battalion of Union soldiers in Texas, to ensure the emancipation of the remaining enslaved population. This date became known as Juneteenth or “Freedom Day.” In honor of this day, here are 10 books to add to your reading list.
“Juneteenth” by Ralph Ellison (1999) (Historical Fiction) (Classics)
This novel was posthumously published when Ellison died in 1994. The story details the complex relationship between a dying white senator and a black preacher from Oklahoma and how the ideals of Juneteenth pertain to freeing one’s soul and identity.
“Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper (2015) (Children’s) (Picture Book)
In this children’s book, Mazie is testing her boundaries as a young child, complaining to her father that she can’t do everything she wants. Her father uses this as a teaching moment and tells her about her ancestors’ struggle for freedom and the significance of Juneteenth.
“The Weary Blues” by Langston Hughes (1925) (Poetry) (Classics)
Written during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s, Hughes’ first collection of poems provides an intimate, emotional and proud journey of growing up African American.
“A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance” by Hanif Abdurraqib (2021) (Non-Fiction) (History) (Music) (Essays)
This collection of masterfully written essays delves into the tangled web of history and its effects on Black performances. Abdurraqib peels back the layers of specific performance history moments, looking at their significance.
“Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson (2014) (Memoir)
This is an autobiographical account detailing the founding of the Equal Justice Initiative, which helps defend the poor, wrongly accused and incarcerated. Stevenson’s story examines the centuries-long history of mass incarcerations and racial injustice.
“The Water Dancer” by Ta-Nihesi Coates (2019) (Historical Fiction) (Fantasy)
This fantasy fiction novel tells the story of Hiram, a young man born into slavery. His mother was sold when he was young, and he’s mysteriously left with no memories of her but gifted with extraordinary powers. As he makes a daring escape to the North, he vows to rescue the family he left behind.
“The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration” by Isabel Wilkerson (2010) (Non-Fiction) (History)
Decades after emancipation, Black families from America’s Deep South fled to the North in search of a better life and opportunities. Wilkerson chronicles the lives of three families and their struggle to find independence and freedom in their new cities.
“Ruth and the Green Book” by Calvin Alexander Ramsey (2010) (Children’s) (Picture Book)
Told from the perspective of young Ruth, this children’s book is about a Black family visiting Ruth’s grandmother a few states away in the South. Along their journey, they’re refused service simply because they are Black. When someone gifts “The Green Book” to Ruth’s father, referencing which services will cater to their family, the trip becomes easier.
“On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed (2021) (Memoir) (Essays)
In this essay collection, Gordon-Reed delves into the history leading up to and the aftermath of Juneteenth. She also explores the messy and complex divides and issues that are derived from them today.
“Stony the Road: Reconstruction, White Supremacy and the Rise of Jim Crow” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2015) (History) (Non-Fiction)
In this powerful narrative, Gates Jr. recounts the impact of Juneteenth from a unique lens. It details how slavery evolved from its roots in the Jim Crow South and the systemic racism that is still pervasive today.
Bonus: “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet Jacobs (1861) (Classics) (Memoir)
Jacobs provides one of the few personal narratives we have from an enslaved person. Join UMGC virtually on June 18 at 12 p.m. CET to discuss this powerful book. Learn more about this discussion here.
