On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free. The order came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, marking June 19 as a defining milestone in the nation’s journey toward freedom.
Known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day, the holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is often called the nation’s second Independence Day.
A timeline of freedom
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Jan.1, 1863: Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in Confederate-held territory free.
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April 9, 1865: Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders, effectively ending the Civil War.
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June 19, 1865: Union Maj. General Gordon Granger arrives in Galveston and issues General Order No. 3, freeing about 250,000 enslaved Texans.
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December 6, 1865: The 13th Amendment is ratified, abolishing slavery nationwide.
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June 7, 1979: Texas becomes the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday.
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June 17, 2021: President Joe Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19 as a federal holiday.
Today, Juneteenth celebrations center on family, community, education and remembrance. The holiday honors the resilience and contributions of Black Americans while acknowledging the ongoing pursuit of equality.
Johnson County Library offers resources to help learners explore Juneteenth and Black history.
Learn about the power of imagery
The Library’s bimonthly “The Past Is Prologue” series returns June 30 with “The Power of Imagery and the Civil Rights Experience.” The program examines historical and perspectives often overlooked or misrepresented in traditional history books.
What you’ll learn:
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How photography has raised awareness of social issues, shaped public perception and influenced the civil rights movement following Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.
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How portrayals of Black communities have evolved from segregation to today.
Presented by Ann Dean, an artist and photography instructor at the Lawrence Art Center, the program will be held on Zoom and requires registration.
Experience art that tells a story
Visit Lenexa City Center Library through Aug. 16 to view artwork by Aisha Lee, whose figurative pieces explore resilience and new beginnings. Central to her work is
the lotus flower, which serves as a symbol and visual metaphor for Black life blooming in strength and beauty despite adversity.
the lotus flower, which serves as a symbol and visual metaphor for Black life blooming in strength and beauty despite adversity. Lee's works reflect contemporary times rather than historical artifacts. They draw on the wisdom of the past while creating space for new futures, reminding us that liberation is both inherited and actively pursued.
Lee's exhibition is part of the Library’s partnership with InterUrban ArtHouse, which curates rotating displays at Library branches across the county to inspire conversation and creativity.
Gather in a space honoring local Black history
Merriam Plaza Library is home to the Webb Family Meeting Room, which seats up to 40 people. The room features a mural honoring Alfonso and Mary Webb and their family, longtime Merriam residents whose legal action in the late 1940s challenged school segregation.
Their case, Webb v. School District No. 90, exposed unequal conditions between Black and white schools and helped lay groundwork for the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision.
Explore Library resources
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Primary Sources: Databases and archival collections offer historical documents, newspapers, and records on Juneteenth, the civil rights movement and Black history, including materials from the African-American History Collection, Associated Press Collections Online, the American Civil Liberties Union Papers and Slavery and Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive.
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Local History: Resources include The Legacy of Corinthian Nutter and JoCo History Collections.
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Watch and Listen: Stream documentaries and films through Kanopy, including Juneteenth stories. Recorded “Past Is Prologue” programs are also available.
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Read and Discover: Browse curated book lists featuring Black authors, Juneteenth, picture books and materials on the Negro Leagues, the Civil War and Black history.
