Posted on June 18, 2021 at 9:55 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Tomorrow is Juneteenth, the anniversary of the final enslaved people learning they’d been freed and a day that commemorates the end of an ugly chapter in history.

The day, which has long been marked by Black Americans, became a holiday in many states in recent years and just now became a national holiday.

So for those who like to theme their reading to annual or impromptu events, we’ve gathered a few reading lists.

Author Kiese Laymon’s suggestions are geared more towards “incisive and innovative books,” i.e., those that address the long-term consequences of slavery.

You can see Laymon’s five Juneteenth recommendations on NPR’s website.

Essence, meanwhile, has a longer Juneteenth reading list — eighteen books — that includes both books that cover the day's history and those that discuss the aftermath of emancipation.

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Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Book lists, History, NPR

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