Bucks County Free Library: Books Celebrating Juneteenth

Press release from the Bucks County Free Library:

June 17, 2022

On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, General Order #3 informed the citizens of Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people were free. Juneteenth, short for June 19th, was celebrated annually in Galveston as the day that officially ended slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth spread in popularity through Texas and the rest of the United States. It become a day for family celebrations combined with reflection and education about the history of slavery, the legacy of reconstruction, and our country’s ongoing struggle to become a more perfect union.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Many businesses (including Bucks County Free Library) will observe the holiday this year on Monday, June 20.

One way we can honor the day is by reading books about the Juneteenth holiday and the history of our country following the Emancipation Proclamation.

Pat H., Yardley-Makefield branch

This press release was produced by the Bucks County Free Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.