Synopsis
It's June 19 and you see a parade with music and dancing. But do you know why? It's Juneteenth, of course!
Marilyn Courtot - Children's Literature
If you are of African American descent and live in the states of Alaska, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma, or Texas, you will know that it is Juneteenth because it is a state holiday. In clear and straightforward language Jordan explains how this holiday came to be—the slaves in Texas did not learn that they were free until June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger read and order in Galveston, Texas stating that all of the slaves were free. The origin or the name for the holiday is also interesting. Since it was against the law to educate slaves most of what they learned or knew was passed along orally. The general order of June 19th became Juneteenth and thus the name stuck. The book describes ways that the holiday is celebrated and is peppered with historical and contemporary photographs. There is a timeline of important dates, a glossary and a short list of relatively recent books to consult for additional information. Since this book is aimed for the school and library market it also has an index as well as a table of contents. 2003, Heinemann, Ages 5 to 8.