MC Library is proud to celebrate Juneteenth, a pivotal moment in American history that marks the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Here you will find information about the significance of Juneteenth, along with several book and video recommendations. You will also find helpful research databases and resources from MC, local, and national sources, all dedicated to Juneteenth.
Quick Facts about Juneteenth
According to Mary Elliot, Curator of American slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), "Juneteenth is a significant date in American history and the African American experience." On June 19th, 1865, General Gordon Granger led the Union Army into Galveston, Texas, where he publicly announced that all enslaved African Americans were now free.
Although the Emancipation Proclamation had legally liberated African Americans in rebellious states, including Texas, on January 1st, 1863, and the Civil War had concluded in April 1865, the enforcement of the Proclamation in the rebelling western states, not nationwide, didn't happen until June 19th, 1865, bringing freedom to enslaved individuals.
The Juneteenth flag is a symbolic representation of when slavery ended in the United States. Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF) along with some collaborators, created the flag back in 1997. Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf brought the flag to life. The flag would be revised to the current version used today, and in 2007, the date "June 19, 1865) would be added to the flag. According to Haith, the creation of the flags and its symbols was intentional. The flag features a star, a burst, and an arc.
Maryland Emancipation Day at Josiah Henson Museum and Park
Maryland Emancipation Day commemorates the ratification of the Maryland Constitution of 1864, which officially abolished slavery within the state and emancipated all those still held in bondage. Join us on Saturday, November 2nd!
Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2024
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location:
Josiah Henson Museum and Park
11410 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852
Registration:
Adults: $5
Seniors & Youth: $4
Children under 6: Free
Maryland Emancipation Day at Oakley Cabin
Join us on Saturday, November 2nd for free guided tours of Oakley Cabin.
Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2024
Time: 11am - 4pm
Location:
Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park
3610 Brookeville Road
Olney, MD 20832
Registration: Free
Maryland Emancipation Day at Harper Cabin
Join us on Saturday, November 2nd for free guided tours of Harper Cabin at Brookside Nature Center
Date: Saturday, November 2nd, 2024
Time: 1pm - 4pm
Location:
Brookside Nature Center
1400 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902
Registration: Free
Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour - Frederick Douglass
" The moving image installation interweaves period reenactments across five screens to create a vivid picture of 19th-century activist, writer, orator and philosopher Frederick Douglass (1818–1895)."
Date: December 8th, 2023 - November 26th, 2026
Time: 11:30am - 7pm
Location: National Portrait Gallery | 8th St. and G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001
Registration: Free
Each year, Montgomery College's Board of Trustees designates national and state of Maryland awareness days and months for MC to celebrate. To acknowledge and celebrate diversity, MC Library creates online guides and library displays for each awareness day or month designated by the Board.
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