Posted by This past Wednesday, we celebrated Juneteenth (June 19), a date that officially became a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth celebrates the day 159 years ago–June 19, 1865–when freedom finally arrived for enslaved people in Texas, which was the western-most state under Confederate control at the the time. That day was marked as “Juneteenth” by the free people of Texas, and can be considered a day when freedom truly came to the United States. To learn about Juneteenth, its historical significance, and its modern legacy for Black people in America, check out the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s Juneteenth section.
Juneteenth is a time to reflect on continue to celebrate the achievements and resilience of our Black communities, as well as to remember the dark history that the U.S.A. was founded on and understand how we can learn from it. In the interest of learning, we’ve got a booklist to share–the Juneteenth edition!
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
This comprehensive book provides an in-depth dive into the history leading up to Juneteenth and the hardships that Black Americans continued to face in its aftermath, with a focus on the history of the state of Texas in particular.
James by Percival Everett
Percival Everett’s reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from the point of view of the enslaved character Jim. While holding true to the many adventures and episodes in the original Twain novel, the story gains a new depth and light through exploring Jim’s past and adding new narrative layers to the story that so many Americans know and love.
Black AF History; the Un-Whitewashed Story of America by Michael Harriot
Political columnist and witer Michael Harriot presents a stunning portrait of American history, which centers the experience of Black people and relies on primary sources from Black historians, scholars, and thinkers.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
This sweeping historical fiction epic follows Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation Georgia, whose harrowing journey to freedom on the Underground Railroad paints an honest and brutal picture of pre-Civil War America.
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
Compiled by authors and historians Ibram X. Kendi (How to be an Antiracist) and Keisha N. Blain (Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom), the volume brings together nearly 90 prominent Black American writers to map the tumultuous history of Black America and all of its tragedy and triumph.
Magic Enuff by Tara M. Stringfellow
This shining collection of poems celebrates Black sisterhood and femininity and explores the many contradictions that exist in the existence of Black women. Filled with love, anger, and humanity, Tara M. Stringfellow uses her poetry to showcase the multifaceted bonds between different generations of Black women, and how those bonds are imbued with a lasting magic.
Have you read any of these books? Or do you plan to? let us know in the comments!
All images from goodreads.com.
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