LibGuides: Celebrate Juneteenth: Home

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual celebration that marks the emancipation of all slaves in the Confederacy. It commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Texans in Galveston were informed that slavery was over. Learn more about the history and meaning of Juneteenth by checking out our book recommendations, participating in our virtual book discussion, and exploring the other resources below.

June 15 Panel Discussion

The San Antonio Public Library hosted a virtual panel discussion on the history of Juneteenth in San Antonio, entitled, "Juneteeth: Past, Present and Future." Panelists included Byron Miller, President of the Juneteenth Freedom Coalition, Claudia Espinosa of the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum and Express-News columnist Cary Clack. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Carolyn Tubbs of St. Mary's University. The event took place on Tuesday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m.

June 20 - Author Annette Gordon-Reed

Join SAPL as we celebrate Juneteenth with a unique opportunity. Author Annette Gordon-Reed will speak about her book On Juneteenth that was published in May 2021. On Juneteenth provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. All too aware of the stories of cowboys, ranchers, and oilmen that have long dominated the lore of the Lone Star State, Gordon-Reed―herself a Texas native and the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas as early as the 1820s―forges a new and profoundly truthful narrative of her home state, with implications for us all. Our event will be moderated by another native Texan – Angela Ards, a Dallas native who is a journalist and an associate professor of English at Boston College. Books will be available for purchase from the Twig Book Shop. The event will take place via ZOOM on June 20, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Please register by clicking here.

Professor Gordon-Reed spoke about her book On Juneteenth on the public radio program, Texas Standard. The broadcast is available here.

Alamo City Moms: Celebrate Juneteenth
Local contributor, Briana, offers suggestions for families honoring the day for the first time, including several virtual events.
Celebrating Juneteenth
Resources from Teaching Tolerance help explain the history of Juneteenth and how students can be advocates for change.
The Coming of Freedom: Celebrating Juneteenth
Go on a virtual tour of the Slavery and Freedom exhibit of the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Juneteenth: All About the Holidays from PBS LearningMedia
Child-friendly video presentation shares the history of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth: Connecting The Historic To The Now
A panel of scholars explore the origins of Juneteenth discuss the historical and current political significance of the holiday. Panelists: Annette Gordon-Reed, Carl M. Loeb University Professor of History, Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University; Jelani Cobb, Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism at Columbia University; and Imani Perry, Hughes-Rogers Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, will moderate.
Juneteenth in a Time of Reckoning
In this article from the Harvard Gazette, members of the Harvard University community share what Juneteenth means to them.
What Is Juneteenth? How to Explain the History of the Holiday to Kids
From Parents.com, teach your family about the annual celebration of emancipation from slavery.
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
The story of Juneteenth is told by Google Arts and Culture using images from multiple sources including the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.