eBook Expo

Juneteenth

by Maison Horton

Image Credit: wynpnt / Pixabay | designed by Ben Haith and Lisa Jeanne Graf, http://www.ljgraf.com/flag_designs.html

On June 19th, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger announced in Texas that the state would, in perpetuity, recognize the freedom of African-Americans. Though President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had forbidden the inhumane practice of slavery two years earlier, enforcing the law in real time fell under the responsibility of Union generals in the aftermath of the U.S. Civil War. This beginning of the U.S. Reconstruction Era marked a period of legislative and sociocultural shifts as African-Americans began anew with recognition as rightful U.S. citizens. Though challenges would soon come in the form of continued racism like Jim Crow laws, one thing would remain undeniable--that not a single Black american would be forced into servitude again. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated in commemoration of this historic liberation. In this display, you'll find an eBook about the origins of Juneteenth and ways the day is celebrated. You'll also find eBooks about the end of the U.S. Civil War and the Reconstruction Era to provide a fuller context surrounding the holiday.

In this display:

• Behrend, J. (2015). Reconstructing democracy : Grassroots black politics in the deep south after the civil war. University of Georgia Press.
• Blight, D.W. & Downs, J. (2017). Beyond Freedom : Disrupting the History of Emancipation. University of Georgia Press. 
• Brittanica Educational Publishing Staff. (2012). Biographies of the civil war and reconstruction : Abraham lincoln, robert e. lee, ulysses s. grant, and more. Rosen Publishing Group.
• Byers, A. (2018). The emancipation proclamation. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC.
• Conner, R. C. (2013). General gordon granger : The savior of chickamauga and the man behind "juneteenth". Casemate Publishers (Ignition).
• Cooper, F. (2000). Beyond Slavery: Explorations of Race, Labor, and Citizenship in Postemancipation Societies. Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press. 
• Facing History and Ourselves. (2015). The reconstruction era and the fragility of democracy.
• Gay, K. (2000). African-american holidays, festivals, and celebrations : The history, customs, and symbols associated with both traditional and contemporary religious and secular events observed by americans of african descent. Omnigraphics, Inc.
• Mathisen, E. (2018). The loyal republic : Traitors, slaves, and the remaking of citizenship in civil war america. University of North Carolina Press.
• Novak, D. A. (2014). The wheel of servitude : Black forced labor after slavery. University Press of Kentucky.
• Reader, J. (2019). The story behind juneteenth. Rosen Publishing Group.
• Sanders, D. (2015). The garden of eden : The story of a freedmen's community in texas. TCU Press.
• Smith, J. D. (2014). We ask only for even-handed justice : Black voices from reconstruction, 1865-1877. University of Massachusetts Press.
• Summers, M. W. (2014). The ordeal of the reunion : A new history of reconstruction. Littlefield History of the Civil War Era Ser.
• Thomas, V. M. (2019). Lest we forget : The passage from africa into the twenty-first century. becker&mayer! books.