Book recommendations for celebrating Juneteenth National Independence Day
Juneteenth National Independence Day may be a relatively new federal holiday, but it has a long history. Here are some books about this holiday that celebrates the end of enslavement in the U.S. These books educate both adults and children about Juneteenth’s history and significance.
For more reading suggestions, visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s website.
On Juneteenth
This 2021 book captures the hardships of Black people in Texas before Juneteenth and after. Gordon-Reed, a Pulitzer Prize winner and a descendant of enslaved people, includes her family’s story. The book made The New York Times’ 10 Best Books of 2021.
Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration
Cotham’s 2021 work is the product of decades of research. It reviews Juneteenth’s history, clarifies falsehoods and details how the observance went from an obscure holiday to a nationwide celebration.
Juneteenth: A Novel
Published in 1999, five years after Ellison’s death, the novel centers on a Black preacher’s passionate sermon on the meaning of Juneteenth. Writer Toni Morrison described the novel as a “majestic narrative concept.” Ellison won a National Book Award for his novel Invisible Man in 1953, becoming the first Black author to win the award.
Galveston’s Juneteenth Story: And Still We Rise
By W. Dwayne Jones, Galveston Historical Foundation, Tommie Boudreaux, Alice Gatson and Jami Durham
This 2024 book focuses on where Juneteenth began in 1865 – Galveston, Texas. The city remains home to the oldest continual celebration of the nation’s abolition of enslavement.
The Real History of Juneteenth
Smith’s 2023 book is part of a series for students in grades four to eight. It covers the first Juneteenth celebration through its designation as a federal holiday. Smith’s book promises facts missing from most historical accounts.
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth
First published in 2022 – a year after activist Opal Lee’s successful drive to make Juneteenth a federal holiday – this children’s book tells Lee’s story. In 1939, 12-year-old Lee’s family home was burned by white rioters on Juneteenth. She pursued a life of social justice afterward.
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States
This 2022 illustrated children’s book describes how Juneteenth has evolved since its origin in 1865. The book garnered a Black Kid Lit Award.
The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate
By Alliah L. Agostini and Taffy Elrod
This 2024 recipe book provides a way to explore the food traditions of Juneteenth with recipes families can prepare together. It includes craft projects, games and a primer on Juneteenth music.
