Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration
Edward T. Cotham, Jr.
State House Press
Juneteenth has been touted as a national day celebrating the end of slavery. Observances from coast to coast have turned this event into part of the national conversation about race, slavery, and how Americans understand, acknowledge, and explain what has been called the national “original sin.”
But, why Juneteenth? Where did this celebration come from? What is the origin story? What are the facts, and legends, around this important day in the nation’s history? Using decades of research in archives around the nation, this book helps separate myth from reality and tells the story behind the celebration in a way that provides new understanding and appreciation for the event.