In celebration of Juneteenth National Independence Day, the Emory Libraries has compiled a resource guide with books, videos, event links and more!
Below are some guide highlights to get you started. Note that many of the links here are for the Emory community to access these materials via the Emory Libraries, but members of the public can do a search for these items through their local public library’s website.
Books
Check out the libraries’ collection of books about Juneteenth such as Annette Gordon-Reed’s sweeping overview of the importance of the holiday in the past and the present, “On Juneteenth,” available at the library in print. You’ll also find books that highlight Juneteenth food traditions within our growing cookbook collection, as well as hallmarks of African American fiction ranging from the recently published Conjure Women by Afia Atakora to Jean Toomer’s Cane from 1923.
Videos & podcasts
Traveling this month? Listen to a podcast that chronicles the history or significance of Juneteenth. For a culinary history of the holiday, try listening to “Juneteenth: History and Food of the Celebration,” a podcast from Heritage Radio Network. Interested in learning more about Emancipation and the meaning of freedom in the United States today? Listen to The Daily’s The History and Meaning of Juneteenth.
Revisit the powerful programs from the 2021 symposium “In the Wake of Slavery and Dispossession: Emory, Racism and the Journey Towards Restorative Justice,” which drew presenters from colleges and universities across the country. The video playlist can be found here. (Also accessible to the public.)
Articles
In addition to books and podcasts, a good place to start learning about the significance of Juneteenth is Henry Louis Gates’ 2013 article “What is Juneteenth?” from The Root.
Want to learn more about Juneteenth in Atlanta? Visit our digital subscriptions to the Atlanta Daily World and the Atlanta Journal- Constitution (login with a current Emory ID required).
Audio recordings
Want some music for your celebrations? You can find hundreds of streaming audio titles within the Emory Libraries’ databases. “Changed my Name,” a collection of spirituals and other music related to Emancipation, is available via the Naxos Music Database. Check out additional selections ranging from Carlos Simon’s “rap opera” entitled “Requiem for the Enslaved” to an audio version of the poetry compilation, “I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry” in the Naxos Jazz and Spoken Word databases.
Resources for kids
Did you know that the Emory Libraries has collections of children’s books related to Black history and culture? Find books like “Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride,” which explores concepts like slavery, freedom, and emancipation through the lens of Sojourner Truth’s life. You’ll also find articles from the National Museum of African American History and Culture on how to talk to children about Juneteenth.
Events & celebrations
And don’t forget to celebrate with one of the many events happening across the city!
To view the complete guide please visit: https://guides.libraries.emory.edu/Juneteenth2024
—Erica Bruchko is the African American Studies and US history librarian