Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day; a holiday to celebrate the emancipation of the last African chattel slaves in the United States. It was on June 19, 1865 that the Union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, reached Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War was over and that all enslaved were now free; a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. We encourage our PPS families and Plymouth community to take time to read and learn more about Juneteenth!
Educational Resources
Books for Kids and Young Adults
- “Juneteenth for Mazie” by Floyd Cooper
- “Juneteenth Jamboree” by Carole Boston Weatherford
- “All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom” by Angela Johnson
- "The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure" by Steven Otfinoski
- “Days of Jubilee” by Fredrick McKissack and Patricia McKissack
Visit the Plymouth Public Library for more!