18 Books To Read Leading Up To Juneteenth

By Keyaira Boone ·June 14, 2021June 14, 2021

Deliberate attempts to obscure the ugliness of American history have hidden Juneteenth just out of “mainstream” culture’s frame since the holiday’s inception. Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Liberation Day, the Galveston bred cause for celebration marks the freeing of the final enslaved persons on American soil.

Parts of the country, especially its birthplace of Texas, have honored Juneteenth with cookouts, parades, and other community events for years, but with the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others whose names we haven’t yet heard forcing America to take a look at itself there have been increased attempts to raise the profile of the occasion. As awareness spreads, however, concerns have been raised about sanitizing the legacy of this important day in Black American history.

While you could scour the internet for information, there’s no better resource on Juneteenth than printed text. The books listed below shed light on the history of Juneteenth through research and personal narratives, the racist systems erected in the aftermath of abolition, and some of the art the holiday inspired.

01On Juneteenth – Annete Gordon ReedThe Texas native behind 2009’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work The Hemingses of Monticello, turns her talents to sharing the facts behind the holiday.

Buy Now 02Juneteenth Texas : Essays in African-American FolkloreLearn the origins of some of the cultural traditions and legends associated with this joyful occasion by exploring its Texan roots.

Buy Now 03How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America Book – Clint SmithSmith uses his hometown of New Orleans to introduce examples of how white supremacy shapes our environments.

Buy Now 04They Were Her Property -Stephanie E. Jones-RogersRogers provides evidence for an argument that white women’s role in slavery was not as passive as previously portrayed.

Buy Now 05Stony the Road – Henry Louis Gates, Jr.Louis Gates Jr., closely explores the century between abolition and the civil rights revolution.

Buy Now 06Envisioning EmancipationPublished on the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, this book uses rarely seen images to illuminate what the road to freedom actually looked like.

Buy Now 07We Were Eight Years In PowerCoates uses the touchpoint of reconstruction to offer sharp commentary on modern politics.

Buy Now 08THE NEW JIM CROW by Michelle AlexanderThis well researched text connects the legacy of slavery to the over-policing that contributes to mass incarceration.

Buy Now 09Black on Both Sides- A Racial History of Trans Identity – C. Riley SnortonNobody is free until we’re all free.

Buy Now 10Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880 – W. E. B. Du BoisThe first complete study focusing on Black Americans post abolotion.

Buy Now 11The Purpose of Power – Alicia GarzaThe Black Live Matter co-founder advocates for grace among those trying to create social change.

Buy Now 12The Prophets – Robert Jones, Jr.The author gives voice to the enslaved and the enslavers in his debut novel.

Buy Now 13The Underground Railroad – Colson WhiteheadThis 2016 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel reimagines the real-life Underground Railroad that rescued many Americans from slavery.

Buy Now 14A Little Devil In America – Hanif AbdurraqibA reflection of the ways Black performance has been infused into our collective psyches.

Buy Now 15The Fire Next Time – James BaldwinCurl up with the classic that inspired a generation of thinkers.

Buy Now 16The Prophets – Robert Jones, Jr.The author gives voice to the enslaved and the enslavers in his debut novel.

Buy Now 17Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. BlainIbram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain come together to carefully present the takes of ninety writers on five consecutive years of the 400 year time span between the fateful year of 1619 and 2019.

Pre-Order Now 18The 1619 Project – Nikole Hannah-JonesEngage with the work that challenged the origin story your social studies teacher drilled into you.