June 19 marks the anniversary of Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas finally learned they were free, two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“In amazement and disbelief, the 250,000 former slaves in Texas learned that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, which could not be enforced until the war was over... Shocked, disoriented, most likely fearful of an uncertain future in which they could do as they pleased, the liberated slaves of Texas celebrated. Their moment of jubilee was spontaneous and ecstatic and began a tradition of marking freedom on Juneteenth” (Smithsonian Magazine).
Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021 (VOA).
Learn more about Juneteenth and join the celebration with these lists and other resources.
Library Events
- Juneteenth: More than a Day - Saturday, June 15 from 11:00AM – 3:00PM at Mountlake Terrace Library.
- They Want Our Rhythm, but Not Our Blues: African American Innovation through Pop Culture - Saturday, June 15 from 2:00 – 3:30PM at Lynnwood Library.
Online Library Events
- A Space for Black History - Tuesday, June 11 from 6:00 – 7:30PM.
Community Events
- Change the Narrative: Juneteenth Kickoff – Sunday, June 9 from 2:00 – 6:00PM at Boys & Girls Club, Everett.
- Juneteenth Freedom Day – Saturday, June 15 from 12:00 – 4:00PM at Skykomish River Park, Monroe.
- Juneteenth 2024 – Wednesday, June 19 from 10:00AM – 3:00PM at Cedar Valley Community School, Lynnwood.
- Juneteenth at the Beach: Festival of Freedom – Wednesday, June 19 from 11:00AM – 2:00PM at Edmonds Waterfront Center, Edmonds.
- Juneteenth Community Celebration - NAACP Snohomish County – Friday, June 22 from 1:00 – 3:00PM at Willis Tucker Park, Snohomish.
Books
Juneteenth Is – Bursting with gorgeous art, a young girl contemplates what Juneteenth means to her, her family, and her community.
The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes And Activities For Kids And Families To Celebrate - This inviting cookbook introduces the history of Juneteenth to kids through vibrant recipes, activities, and games drawn from Black American cultural traditions.
Watermelon & Red Birds – This gorgeous cookbook by food writer and cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor celebrates Juneteenth with delicious recipes drawn from her decade of personal experiences observing the holiday.
On Juneteenth - The essential, sweeping story of Juneteenth's integral importance to American history, as told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Texas native.
Online Resources
- Juneteenth - a curated selection of streaming movies in Kanopy.
- Black Freedom Struggle - browse primary source documents from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom.
More to Explore
- Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom - an overview of the historic events culminating in Juneteenth Celebrations
- Smithsonian's Juneteenth Website - recorded events and genealogical resources
