The Emancipation Proclamation—issued on January 1, 1863—was one of the single most important presidential decree ever issued. However, without the firestorm of social media like we have today, it took until June 19, 1865, before word of the Proclamation reached the last enslaved people of Galveston Texas. This is the reason for selecting June 19th—shortened to Juneteenth—as the day to acknowledge the painful legacy of slavery and honor the resilience and achievements of African Americans.
Juneteenth is often considered the longest-running African-American holiday but was never recognized as an official holiday until President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021.
In honor of the fierce activism of people like Opal Lee and Lula Briggs Galloway who worked tirelessly to bring legitimacy to Juneteenth, the Edison Public Library has highlighted books from our collection that tell the story of Juneteenth, highlight the struggles of enslaved people in this country, and celebrate the resilience of African Americans. |
