Today is Juneteenth, the oldest-known holiday celebrating the end of slavery in America. While slavery was officially abolished via the Thirteenth Amendment in 1863, it actually took a full two years later, on June 19th, 1865, before the 250,000 slaves in Galveston, Texas, were freed, and a complete end to the Civil War was declared. Free Black Texans began celebrating June 19th from that point on, and the day soon became a day for celebration for Black folks across the country.
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But Juneteenth didn’t become a Federal holiday until the late year of 2021, via the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.
But Juneteenth is more than a holiday: it’s a crucial time to remember the painful, violent history of this country, as well as to celebrate the strength and beauty of American Black culture. In a year when the “anti-woke” attacks from bigots and anti-progressives keep coming hard and fast, keeping informed and aware is of the essence.
As we’ve often said, there’s no better way to engage with history than to crack open a book. Here are a few that will educate, engage, and help us prepare for the fight ahead.