Happy Juneteenth! Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day. This holiday celebrates the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, the news of this important decision didn’t reach Texas until June 19th, 1865....
Guest post by Tonya Duncan Ellis, 2024 Bronze Sponsor
On June 19, 1865 enslaved people in Texas learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln. The date, called Freedom Day or Juneteenth, became a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate with family picnics, gatherings and pageants, to shop at Black-owned businesses and to reflect on Black history. The ten children’s books below highlight various aspects of Juneteenth.