Are you looking for ways to learn more about Juneteenth, a federal holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States? East Tennessee State University has prepared resources to help the community better understand Juneteenth and Black American history.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth officially became a national holiday in 2021. It commemorates the end of
slavery in America at the conclusion of the Civil War. Juneteenth marks the day that
enslaved people in Texas found out they were free on June 19, 1865.
Books to read
ETSU’s Dr. Elwood Watson, a professor of history, has written extensively about race and Black American history in the U.S.
An award-winning author and syndicated columnist, Watson recommends three books that will help anyone better understand the experience
of Black Americans. Those are:
- “The Mis-Education of The Negro,” written by Carter G. Woodson. Originally published in 1933, Woodson argues that from the Civil War though the early 1930s, the education system in the U.S. oppressed Black students instead of helping them.
- “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” written by Isabel Wilkerson. The Pulitzer-Prize winner argues that caste – the idea of withholding honor and status – manifests itself violently in the U.S. in the treatment of Black Americans.
- “The Fire Next Time,” written by James Baldwin. Published in 1963, Baldwin writes two non-fiction essays that highlight the profoundly negative effects of racism.
Video to watch
Dr. Daryl Carter, a professor of history, associate dean and director of the Black American Studies Program, explains briefly what Juneteenth is and the history of the holiday. He also encourages
viewers to reflect on the holiday, as well as the experience of Black Americans. Watch
the video here:
Why studying Juneteenth – and Black history – is important
Scholars have long argued that to fully understand American history, the public must
have a better grasp of the Black American experience. That includes reckoning with
slavery, civil rights and white supremacy.
“Black Americans have a unique and distinctive history. It is a compelling narrative
that is rich, vast, complex and is filled with rivers of blood, mountains of sweat
and more than a few tears,” Watson said. “It is a history of people who have frequently
triumphed over brutal adversity as well as a people embedded with a remarkable degree
of strength and resiliency.”