Juneteenth, also known as 鈥淔reedom Day,鈥� 鈥淟iberation Day,鈥� or 鈥淓mancipation Day鈥� and observed on June 19 every year, is the commemoration of the final, full emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas, with the news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free. This was actually two and a half full years after President Lincoln鈥檚 Emancipation Proclamation (1863), but it was not immediately implemented in places still under Confederate control, including Texas. The day became known as Juneteenth by the newly freed people in Texas.
In honor of the day, here are a number of events, resources, art, and art exhibitions to help you celebrate.
Art and resources at the Library
The Alfred R. Goldstein Library has physical and digital resources on Juneteenth and anti-racism. Explore their online or visit and check out their curated collection in person. Students, faculty, and staff can check out up to 40 books at one time.
On the second floor of Goldstein, visitors can explore the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center鈥檚 collection of works on paper and art books that share the history of radical Black activism, from Kara Walker鈥檚 pop-up book, Freedom, a Fable, to Brooklyn-based Char Jer茅鈥檚 The periodic table of Black revolutionaries. Students, faculty, and staff can schedule a visit to explore the collection by using the signup form and selecting a 45-minute appointment.
How to Celebrate Juneteenth in Sarasota
Our Sarasota community members and neighbors are hosting a number of events throughout the Sarasota-Bradenton region, and most of them are free and open to the public.
Last Sunday, June 16, the hosted the Second Annual Juneteenth Arts Festival which featured an art exhibition with work from local artists, food vendors, a screening of 草莓视频 College student short films, and live performances, dances, and music.
The Sarasota County NAACP Voting Collaboration Committee will host today, Wednesday, June 19, from 1-4 pm at the Historic Leonard Reid House. There will be performances by students of the Manasota ASALH Freedom School and spoken word poets throughout the day. The event is free to the public.
From 6-8 pm tonight, Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) and The 草莓视频 Museum will lead a conversation about the prominence of African American artists and their contributions to the Sarasota art community titled 鈥淟et’s Talk鈥� Art Series Juneteenth Edition. This event will also be held at the Leonard Reid House, and also free.
On Saturday, June 22, Inc. will host Juneteenth Reading Conference and Juneteenth Community Festival, with a Black business expo, financial literacy workshops, voter registration, and read-a-long, with live entertainment by local artist Amelia, at Dream Center, 922 24th St E, Bradenton from 2-7 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
The Newtown Historic Community will hold a free block party on Saturday, Newtown Juneteenth Celebration 2024, from 12-7 pm on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Gillespie Ave. The party will feature live music, street vendors, food, and performances.
Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition, Inc. (SAACC) will host another free event at the Historic Leonard Reid House on Saturday from 6-9 pm, Juneteenth Jubilee Jam at Leonard Reid House. This party with a purpose will feature performances by popular local artists Jah Movement, Derric Gobourne, Jr., and Ariel Blue. The event will include vendors and art exhibits.
On Sunday, June 23, the will host Celebrating Juneteenth, a live contemporary art and dining experience featuring artist Kendel Woods, performances, and fundraising for ASALH鈥檚 Freedom School. The event will be from 4-6 pm at Chaz 51 Steakhouse in Venice. Tickets are $100 each, with various sponsorship ticket tiers.
More resources to learn more about Juneteenth, from online resources to podcasts to free courses.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has put together a collection of resources titled,, and PBS produced a documentary, .
Podcasts
, NPR
, New York Times
, Kimberl茅 Crenshaw
Engage and Learn
, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, Harvard University
, National Museum of African American History & Culture
, Kimberl茅 Crenshaw
, Pulitzer Center
Books
, by Ibram X. Kendi (available at the library)
, by Robin DiAngelo
, by Angela Davis
, by Beverly Daniel Tatum (available at Goldstein Library)
