Juneteenth is federal holiday and a time of celebration and education. At the heart, Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery, but it also celebrates hope and the enduring spirit of freedom. Join us at these upcoming events, and browse our book lists and other online resources!
Juneteenth Arts Festival
Cordova Library | June 18, 11:00 AM
The Cordova Library is holding an all-day arts festival to celebrate diversity and the African American community of Memphis. It is open to artists, singers, dancers, and local small businesses. JobLINC Bus will be on site and there will be a book give away for children. We’ll have music featuring Dr. Alvin McKinney, “The Prime Minister of Joyful Jazz”.
Jazz On Juneteenth with Symmetry
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library | June 19, 3:00 PM
Symmetry plays the music of Jazz Giants. The band will also provide background information on the composers and their pieces and will have CDs from the library’s jazz collection on hand for check out.
Thanks to the Memphis Library Foundation for supporting this and other programs.
All Library Juneteenth Events
ala black caucus Literary award winners
Recipients of the ALA Black Caucus Literary Awards offer outstanding depictions of the cultural, historical or sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora and embody the highest quality of writing style and research methodology, if applicable.
memphis Juneteenth Festival
Locally, Juneteenth has been celebrated consistently since 1991. The Memphis Juneteenth Festival is offering a live event this year. Visit the Memphis Juneteenth Festival website for more information on the festival as well as a local history of the festival.
Visit the Memphis Juneteenth website.
In 2020, Shamichael Hallman, Senior Manager of the Cossitt Library, interviews Telisa Franklin of the Memphis Juneteenth Festival. Listen now! Ms. Franklin has provided some accompanying documents below.
juneteenth Books for children
We have several books on the Juneteenth celebration for children. Follow the links to our catalog, place it on hold, and pick it up from your local library.
world book entry on juneteenth
World Book Student is aimed at the upper elementary and middle school level. It includes all the articles from the print versions of the World Book Encyclopedia, plus thousands of additional articles, learning resources, and research tools.
#blkfreedom
Ten museums across America including the National Civil Rights Museum are celebrating Juneteenth.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture – Juneteenth resources
“Juneteenth is a time to celebrate, gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future. The National Museum of African American History and Culture invites you to engage in your history and discover ways to celebrate this holiday.”
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Juneteenth webpage.
anisfield-wolf book awards
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and our appreciation of the rich diversity of human cultures.
Digital Public Library of America – Juneteenth
The Digital Public Library of America is a one-stop search for many digital archives across the nation. They include over 6,000 items, including items from our own Dig Memphis, related to Juneteenth.
Visit the Digital Public Library of America – Juneteenth search results.
Houston Public Library Digital Archives
The Houston Public Library houses the the African American Library at the Gregory School which aims to preserve, promote, and celebrate the rich history and culture of African Americans in Houston, the surrounding region, and Texas. With Juneteenth originating in nearby Galveston, Texas, they have an extensive digital collection of early Juneteenth celebrations.
coretta scott king book awards
Given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.
Congressional Research Service Juneteenth Fact Sheet
This document by the Congressional Research Service provides a brief overview of Juneteenth for members of Congress.
Review the Congressional Research Service Juneteenth Fact Sheet.
Taste of Freedom Cookbook
From the first Juneteenth celebrations in the 1860s to today, delicious food has always been a part of the festivities. Staff of the Prairie View A&M University and John B. Coleman Library put together this historical cookbook of recipes and archival images of early Juneteenth celebrations in Texas.
VIRTUAL HBCU CAMPUS TOURS
The Memphis Public Libraries wants to ensure that our local high school seniors and juniors have an outlet to view college campuses online. We have compiled a selection of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses from around the nation for you explore. We hope this helps to keep the conversation and interest going for the upcoming fall semester as teens discover new ways to explore colleges that interest them.