I grew up in the South, but didn’t know about Juneteenth until just a few years ago. Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, slaves were finally declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. The Senate passed legislation Tuesday to make Juneteenth a national holiday. The Juneteenth Independence Day Act now heads to the House for approval.

One of the ways that I observe Juneteenth is by reading an enlightening book or watching an informative documentary. Right now I am reading Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, and it is outstanding. I share this list in the hope it may inspire you.

Books to read:

We Were Eight Years in Power by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

The Black Book compiled by Toni Morrison

Stony the Road by Henry Louis Gates, Jr

Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison

The Weary Blues by Langston Hughes

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Shows to watch:

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice

LA 92

Slavery by Another Name

Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution

13th

The Black Power Mixtape 1967 – 1975

American Son

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

America to Me

Dark Girls

When They See Us

I Am Not Your Negro

King in the Wilderness