LINC recognizes Juneteenth - a day to celebrate African American’s contributions and reflect on the systemic injustices that are still rampant in our society today.
Juneteenth marks the date, June 19, 1865, when approximately 250,000 Black enslaved people in Texas learned they had been liberated, released from bondage, nearly two and half long years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had outlawed slavery. Although this is the 158th anniversary of Juneteenth Independence Day, it was recognized as a federal holiday only three years ago.
Juneteenth is an opportunity to acknowledge the tragic fact that slavery is part of our American reality and commemorate its end. It is an occasion to bond with your child over a good book, teach them about history, and nurture their curiosity for knowledge, empathy, and for questioning and challenging injustice.
Jubilant events are held throughout New York City all weekend in libraries, museums, theaters, in countless outdoor venues and online. However you decide to celebrate, the struggle for racial justice continues and each one of us can play a role in helping to build a world where every child feels safe, recognized, validated, loved, and valued.
Choose one of the New York Public Library’s Juneteenth recommendations for children or curl up with one of LINC’s favorites: Alice Faye Duncan's Opal Lee and What it Means to be Free, Rio Cortez's The ABCs of Black History, and Floyd Cooper's Juneteenth for Mazie.
These stories expand our understanding of the past and broaden our children's futures. Be intentional about supporting black authors and keep their stories alive.
To register for LINC’s latest literacy programs, visit www.lincnyc.or/onlineprograms or visit us on YouTube for stories like Homemade Love by the legendary author Bell Hooks.
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