By Haniyah Philogene, courtesy of thegrio.com
On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in the United States obtained their freedom. Now, over 150 years later, oppression continues to threaten Black people in this country.
As institutions like the Supreme Court rule against affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives like the Fearless Fund and the looming threat of Project 2025 increase this election year, it’s easy for Black people who have historically been marginalized and overlooked by the system to feel powerless, frustrated and, in the worst cases, hopeless.
While Juneteenth’s recognition as a federal holiday grants most people a break in the middle of the week this year, it is also a reminder of how resilient Black people have been and continue to be. So in the midst of all the Juneteenth festivities, day parties and cookouts, consider using literature to pregame Freedom Day because as Roxane Gay penned in “Bad Feminist” :
“[Reading] stories [has] given me a place in which to lose myself. They have allowed me to remember. They have allowed me to forget. They have allowed me to imagine different endings and better possible worlds.”
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity – Michele Norris (Simon & Schuster, 2024)
After over one million Americans submitted their thoughts on race in six words (and sometimes more), Peabody Award-winning journalist Michele Norris’ book uses this collection of micro-essays to spark honest and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race and identity.
Through stories, reported essays and photographs, “Our Hidden Conversations” offers a rare, well-rounded look into how Americans not only see themselves but also others, unveiling the ways in which honesty, grace and open-mindedness can cultivate empathy and understanding in the midst of racial division.
The Quilts of Gee’s Bend – Susan Goldman Rubin (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2017)
Spotlighting Gee’s Bend, a Black rural community in southern Alabama, this book helps young readers discover how this rare community uses quilting to tell the stories of their ancestors. Through meticulous research, Susan Goldman Rubin gives an in-depth glimpse into the unique way this community uses art to preserve their history and pass it on to future generations.
Juneteenth Is – Natasha Tripplett ( Chronicle Books, 2024)
This children’s book serves as an ode to Black history in the United States while celebrating the beauty of Black joy and family. Through its vivid illustrations and storytelling, “Juneteenth Is” hopes young readers will see themselves reflected in its pages while also helping others understand experiences beyond their own.
The Juneteenth Cookbook: Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families to Celebrate – Alliah L. Agostini (becker&mayer! kids, 2024)
Help your children understand Juneteenth through hands-on learning experiences with “The Juneteenth Cookbook.” This children’s book offers a series of easy, historically accurate recipes for some of the most popular Juneteenth celebration foods and five fun educational activities, ranging from crafting projects to field games to virtual/on-site field trips.
A Kids Book About Juneteenth – Garrison Hayes (DK Children, 2024)
Designed to kickstart challenging, empowering, and important conversations for kids and their grownups, “A Kids Book About Juneteenth” explores the rich history of Juneteenth in a way that is digestible for children while giving them the space to reflect andthe freedom to imagine a better future.
Soul Step – Jewell Parker Rhodes and Kelly McWilliams (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024)
Written by a mother and daughter, “Soul Step” follows a little girl’s journey to discovering the joy and history of stepping. In addition to showing the legacy of step within Black culture, this children’s book also highlights themes of sisterhood.
The Path to Juneteenth – A Journey Through Black History Reader and Activity Book by Lil’ Buddy Publishing (Independently published, 2024)
Unlike other history books, this textbook/activity workbook emphasizes notable Black history moments. Encouraging children to explore the perseverance and contributions of Black Americans from the past, “The Path to Juneteenth” includes lesson-based activities that are compatible to multiple learning styles.
We Are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For (The W.E.B. Du Bois Lectures) – Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (Harvard University Press, 2024)
In this book, New York Times bestselling author Eddie S. Glaude Jr. helps readers understand that they have the power to enact political change like their ancestors. Through interpretations of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison and more, this book encourages people to not only honor these great thinkers but also to use these past reflections to inspire their own ways to address modern-day problems.
The Black Box: Writing the Race – Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Penguin Press, 2024)
“Finding Your Roots” host Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores Black history through literature. Diving into the prisims of words written by notable others like Phillis Wheatley, W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington, Zora Neale Hurston and more, the book highlights how these creative thinkers thought outside the box and cemented the resilient, creative, powerful and diverse nature of Black culture.
Black History Facts You Didn’t Learn in School – Yecheilyah Ysrayl (Literary Korner Publishing, 2024)
Whether you’re a history buff or a fun-fact lover, “Black History Facts You Didn’t Learn in School” is the book for you. Written as a historical guide on Black accomplishments, contributions and struggles, this book highlights the experiences of women like Anna Douglass, Frederick Douglass’ first wife, and other Black individuals and communities who have been overlooked and omitted from mainstream history books.
Evolving While Black: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness & Transformation on Your Own Terms – Chianti Lomax (Sounds True, 2024)
“Evolving While Black” is a guide for Black women to unlock authentic happiness and liberation. By dismantling the cultural perspectives on self-care and mindfulness, author and life coach Chianti Lomax opens the doors for personal growth through practices, challenging reflections and advice that lead to healing, confidence, self-efficacy, and true self-love.
Imagine Freedom: Transforming Pain into Political and Spiritual Power – Rahiel Tesfamariam (Amistad, 2024)
In the midst of society’s growing racial divide, “Imagine Freedom” empowers readers to decolonize their minds. Using a mix of storytelling, socioeconomic analysis, and cultural criticism with the spiritual and political threads of liberation theology and Pan-Africanism, the author suggests that looking at the world through a larger global and historical lens can allow Black people to not only change the way they view themselves, community and the world but also gain a deeper understanding of their past, present, future and freedom.
Roots, Heart, Soul: The Story, Celebration, and Recipes of Afro Cuisine in America – Todd Richards (Harvest, 2024)
Black cuisine holds ancestral ties, and James Beard Award-winning chef Todd Richards explores this connection in this book. Weaving storytelling, photography, and culinary recipes, this book explores the diaspora’s cuisine throughout history. From the Deep South to the Wild West to the Caribbean, Richards paints a delicious culinary guide highlighting the complex and diverse history and connections within the Black community.
