The library will be closed on Thursday, June 19th in observation of Juneteenth—the federal holiday commemorating the final end to slavery in the United States. Although the 13th amendment was passed in January of 1863, the enslaved population was not fully emancipated until June 19, 1865, when Union troops reached Galveston, Texas.
Observing Juneteenth in Books
If you would like to spend time commemorating this history, consider checking out a title below as an ebook, audiobook, or physical book, purchasing a title at a Black-owned bookstore, or supporting a Black writer or artist with a purchase. The list below includes books on the history of slavery and Juneteenth for a variety of audiences, picture books illustrating Black American culture and the commemoration of Juneteenth, essays on racism in America, guides focused on Antiracism, and fiction set in the era of American slavery by Black authors.
