(Photo Credits: Screengrab from the US National Archives’ Official Twitter Account)
Today marks the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, guys!
Juneteenth—also referred to as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day—is observed every year on this day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
It also commemorates the arrival on June 19, 1865, of Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army together with 2000 Others from Federal Troops in Galveston, Texas to enforce the emancipation proclamation and free the last enslaved black Americans in Texas. Specifically, he “read General Order No. 3 announcing the end of the Civil War and that all enslaved were now free, as well as to maintain a presence in Texas for the purpose of enforcement of emancipation among slave-owners throughout the state.” Read more about it here.
To celebrate Juneteenth 2022, Goodreads released a list of “newly published nonfiction books, from histories to essays to biographies, to read when observing, learning about, or reflecting on Juneteenth.” We know that some of our A4A blog regulars are avid readers so we are featuring some of the aforementioned books here:
- America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s by Elizabeth Hinton. You can purchase the book here and read some of the reviews on this book here.
- On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed. Read the reviews on this book here while you may purchase it here.
- How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith. You can purchase the book here and read the reviews here.
- Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. Purchase the book here or read the reviews first here.
- The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. Read the reviews here and purchase the book here.
Happy Juneteenth 2022, y’all!
Great selection of books. ” Happy Juneteeth”, proud day dedicated to recognizing justice and freedom for African Americans and black people in America. Appreciate the recognition and acknowledgement.
Another “Quintessential” example of the Mundane!
Not unlike “Kwanzaa”!
Media Creations to gain “Magnanimity” to earn attention, coverage and, ultimately, Votes!
“And The-Beat-Goes-On”!
. . . You can go you know where, with that.
I’ve been there many times!
Care to join me?
This really proves how detached you are from this country. Most intelligent people who read know that slavery was a stain on this country. It is important to acknowledge what Juneteenth means. It was the beginning of upholding and enforcing the basic beliefs the Framers had for this country. This isn’t just about black America, but about all Americans who stand for freedom. Of course, there is always a political agenda in everything. To think otherwise is stupid and naive. But some agendas are for the greater good of a country. I’m sure you and your hidden racist folk will… Read more »
I am well aware of Slavery!
I wasn’t despairing the recognition of when the end of slavery actually happened.
I am questioning the “Timing.” It’s all too coincidental.
How is the timing coincidental?? This holiday has been in the works for over twenty years. What is interesting is the idea of making this a federal holiday gained a lot of support during the height of the antiracism protest of 2020. A bill was placed, but despite bipartisan support, it was blocked by one senator. The bill was successful on the second try and was eventually signed by the president. Ultimately, more people see this acknowledgment of moving this great country forward towards equality. Are you on board for that?
Coincidental for sure. You can put Juneteenth and July 4th flags, banners, paper plates, etc. into your shopping cart together online and in-store for curbside pickup or shipment to home. The same goes for Hanukkah, Kwanza, and Christmas. We truly do live in a world of Diversity and Acceptance! In the US at least. United in Commercialization! Thanks to divisive Democratic and Republican party leadership and members, probably one of the last things we’re united in.
A4A thank you for this list of recommendations for Juneteenth books that provide a strong education of this new Federal holiday.
Should’ve said “5 books for whites to read about Juneteenth. And what happy about remembering how fucked up america was and still is???
Great selection of books. ” Happy Juneteeth”
What BS…
As a National Holiday, with “equality” in mind Manufacturers and Marketers have jumped on the opportunity for its Commercialization. You can buy flags. You can by paper plates. You can buy banners to celebrate this holiday to its fullest! Organizations and businesses have even offered ethnically related food items such as watermelon-based and fried chicken options on their menus!
Much to the displeasure of Juneteenth purists, as reported in major media outlets.
This is the USA. Should we have expected otherwise that the commercialization would have taken place and that someone’s knows would have gotten out of joint?
Lmao, you fool, you left out the bar-b-que ribs and chicken, catfish, grilled or fried, potato salad fries, cole slaw, peach cobbler, beer, soft drinks, hmm, don’t think I left anything out.
Doh! Guess once a year or so I have a politically correct moment.
Lmao, lousy odds, wouldn’t you say, shows your ignorance on a great many things.
Rather, a clear understanding that political correctness divides us instead of unites us.
The lack of civility, is the reason for “political correctness” which is just a kind of disguise for what divides us, our physical differences.
The “Holliday” is coined as ‘our’ 4th of July . . .
“What Racism Cost everyone” Unbelievable, what America the sacrifices for its racism, what a waste!
The Federalist Papers|US Constitution- Paperback on Amazon. A must read.
“The remedy for past discrimination is present discrimination. The remedy for present discrimination is future discrimination.” – Ibram X. Kendi. That doesn’t sound like someone who wants to get along to me. It sounds like someone who wants REVENGE.
He’s just speaking about reality and the disappoint of. You can always judge what the future is, looking at the past . . . and you really can, unless of course humanity, would experience a very large and sudden lurch forward in terms of evolution, mentally, spiritually. Which is not likely to happen, right? So, what you’ve and picked-up on was ‘his’ fervor of unlikelihood.
not sure what sort of mental gymnastics/four dimensional chess you’re playing, but what he’s saying is “racism is ok as long as I’m the one doing it.” two wrongs do not make a right!
NO! That in fact is not what he’s saying, it’s what ‘you’ are reading from it, fear?