A celebration of the story of Black freedom in America, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a national a holiday in 2021. But its observance and traditions have existed for more than a century. Take a look at these books, events, and learning tools about Juneteenth from NPL!
Madison Branch Library
Monday, June 16
6:00 to 7:30 PM
Madison neighbors of all ages are welcome to celebrate Juneteenth at their library with this special movie screening and some light refreshments.
Starring Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, and Phylicia Rashad, the two-time Academy Award-winning Soul follows Joe Gardner, a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't gone quite the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have a soul.
We invite you to enjoy this visually stunning tale that offers a valuable lesson on not missing out on what is truly meaningful in life.
Soul (2024), rated PG, run time 1h 40m.
Edgehill Branch Library
Tuesday, June 17
1:00 to 4:30 PM
Race against the clock!
Decipher clues and meet challenges in this immersive, family-friendly adventure. Discover hidden clues amongst trivia as we delve into Black heritage and the influence of the Juneteenth celebration of freedom!
Three sessions: 1:00–2:00, 2:15–3:15, and 3:30–4:30 PM. Maximum 8 participants per session, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Southeast Branch Library
Wednesday, June 18
5:00 to 7:00 PM
Join us for a movie screening celebration including pizza and popcorn!
Based on a true story, the BET Best Movie Award-winner Just Mercy stars Michael B. Jordan as world-renowned defense attorney Bryan Stevenson who works to free a wrongly condemned death row prisoner, played by Jamie Foxx.
Just Mercy (2019), rated PG-13, run time 2h 17m.
Klem-Marí Cajigas — of our marvelous Bringing Books to Life team — is also an NPL blogger, luckily for us all.
Check out her rich roundup post for Juneteenth including its origin and evolution, books for kids, and lesson plan ideas to help celebrate and teach "the beautiful tradition of Black freedom," as Klem-Marí eloquently words it.
