“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” – Toni Morrison | Novelist
Do you know the full history of Juneteenth? Celebrated each year on June 19, Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. At Anythink, we honor this day as a time for reflection, an opportunity to honor Black history and culture and uplift the voices of authors, artists and activists whose stories illuminate our shared past.
Whether you’re learning about Juneteenth for the first time, exploring new narratives, or sharing meaningful reads with family and friends, this list is a place to begin. We hope it sparks conversations, curiosity and continued reading, not just in June, but all year long. After all, the stories of ourselves and our neighbors are always worth revisiting.
Books for Adults & Teens
- “Conjure Women” by Afia Atakora
- “Let Us Descend” by Jesmyn Ward
- “Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi
- “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson
- “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson
- “A Black Women’s History of the United States” by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
Books for Middle Grade Readers
- “How High the Moon” by Karyn Parsons
- “Sugar” by Jewell Parker Rhodes
- “I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly” by Joyce Hansen
- “Freedom Over Me” by Ashley Bryan
- “Ashley Bryan’s ABC of African-American Poetry” by Ashley Bryan
Books for Younger Readers & Families
- “The Juneteenth Story” by Alliah L. Agostini
- “Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem” by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle
- “The ABCs of Black History” by Rio Cortez
- “All Different Now” by Angela Johnson
- “Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free” by Alice Faye Duncan
Movies to Watch
- “Fences” (PG-13)
- “Night Catches Us” (R)
- “Freedom Hill” (TV-PG)
- “The Long Song” (TV-14)
- “The Beauty of Blackness” (TV-14)
- “Solomon Northup’s Odyssey” (TV-14)
Visit your local Anythink library, or check out our Digital Library, to explore these titles and more. Let Juneteenth inspire your reading, your conversations and your community.