Celebrate Juneteenth at the Library

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. This day is now known as Juneteenth, a day to celebrate and reflect on freedom, community and the achievements of African Americans. While the library is closed on June 19, observing the federal holiday, we invite you to celebrate with us in the days ahead.   

Juneteenth Jubilee 

We are holding a Juneteeth Jubilee on Saturday, June 15, at our Essex Branch. Jubilees typically include music, food, dancing, parades and educational activities to honor the end of slavery in the United States. Families attending can enjoy music, face painting, balloon twisters and a photo booth and children make their own Juneteenth crown.  

If you are unable to attend but still want to celebrate the holiday, head into any of our branches to pick up a Juneteenth activity kit. It’s filled with book recommendations, a word search, coloring page and maze. There are also buttons available to proudly wear to commemorate the holiday.  

The Juneteenth Flag 

Typically, the Pan-African flag is what is depicted in Juneteenth celebrations. However, the Juneteenth Flag, created in 1997, has been growing in popularity in recent years. According to the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation, designing the flag was a deliberate process to share the story of the day. We invite you to our programs where you can create your own flag or learn about it below.  

The Star 

The star has a dual meaning. First, it is symbolic of the Lone Star State, where the African American community in Galveston was told they were free. The bigger star represents the 50 states and the spread of freedom to all. 

The Colors 

The colors are based off the American flag—red, white and blue—to share that the people freed in Texas were American citizens.  

Celebrate All Year Round  

• Check out a book about Juneteenth to help young readers understand and celebrate the day.  

• Browse hoopla and Kanopy’s curated collections on the holiday.