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The essential, sweeping story of Juneteenth’s integral importance to American history, as told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Texas native.

Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed’s On Juneteenth provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. 

All too aware of the stories of cowboys, ranchers, and oilmen that have long dominated the lore of the Lone Star State, Gordon-Reed - herself a Texas native and the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas as early as the 1820s - forges a new and profoundly truthful narrative of her home state, with implications for us all. Combining personal anecdotes with poignant facts gleaned from the annals of American history, Gordon-Reed shows how, from the earliest presence of Black people in Texas to the day in Galveston on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of legalized slavery in the state, African Americans played an integral role in the Texas story.

Reworking the traditional “Alamo” framework, she powerfully demonstrates, among other things, that the slave- and race-based economy not only defined the fractious era of Texas independence but precipitated the Mexican-American War and, indeed, the Civil War itself. In its concision, eloquence, and clear presentation of history, On Juneteenth vitally revises conventional renderings of Texas and national history. As our nation verges on recognizing June 19 as a national holiday, On Juneteenth is both an essential account and a stark reminder that the fight for equality is exigent and ongoing.

On Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States and the celebration of African American freedom and achievement. This powerful and moving book by Annette Gordon-Reed tells the story of Juneteenth, from its origins in the aftermath of the Civil War to its modern-day significance as a day of remembrance and celebration.

Gordon-Reed begins by recounting the events leading up to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the enslaved people there that they were free. The news spread quickly, and soon, people all over the country were celebrating the end of slavery. Juneteenth became a day of jubilation, feasting, and prayer, and it quickly became one of the most important holidays in the African American community.

However, Juneteenth was not always celebrated freely and openly. In the Jim Crow era, white Southerners often tried to suppress the holiday, and many African Americans were afraid to celebrate it publicly. But even during these difficult times, Juneteenth continued to be passed down from generation to generation, and it grew into a symbol of African American resilience and determination.

In recent years, Juneteenth has experienced a resurgence in popularity. In 2021, it became a federal holiday, and it is now celebrated by people of all races and backgrounds. Juneteenth is a day to remember the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future. It is a day to honor the legacy of African Americans and to recommit ourselves to the fight for racial justice.

On Juneteenth is a beautifully written and deeply moving book that tells the story of a holiday that is both deeply rooted in history and incredibly relevant to the present day. Annette Gordon-Reed's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of African Americans in the United States and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.