Juneteenth: Celebrating Literary and Artistic Freedom
President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Proclamation announced that those who were enslaved "shall be then, thence forward and forever free." However, the Proclamation did not entirely end slavery in the nation. Slavery formally was abolished after Congress ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution nearly six months later, on December 6, 1865.
It took two years for the news of the Proclamation to reach Texas which was a secessionist states that had left the Union and joined the Confederacy during the civil war. On June 19, 1864 Major General Gordon Granger a union officer led soldiers into Galveston, Texas to deliver the message the war was over and the end of slavery. This was the beginning of Juneteenth now a federal holiday. Juneteenth gets its name by combining the month of June and the 19th.
The ratification also officially ended anti-literacy laws which prevented enslaved people from being able to read, write and spell. In many states to teach an enslaved person to read, write or spell was against the law punishable by fines, imprisonment and flogging. For enslaved people who could read and write the penalties could be more extreme.
To celebrate Juneteenth The African American Children's Book Project (AALBC) which serves to promote and preserve literature written by/about Black people will present Juneteenth - Celebrating Literary and Artistic Freedom. The program hosted by Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati founder of the AALBC will feature American Library Association and Coretta Scott King award winning youth authors and illustrators who will discuss how their works reflect the literary and artistic strides Black Americans have made in this country through the lens of their works. The Literary creators are Gordon C. James, Shadra Strickland, and EB Lewis who have produced some of the best books of our generation.
The free event sponsored by The African American Children's Book Project, Wells Fargo and The Literary Cafe Books & Events and The Athenaeum of Philadelphia will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 219 S Sixth Street. Youth attendees will receive a free book of one of the literary presenters. A book signing will follow the program. Their books will also be available for purchase.
For more information call (215) 878-BOOK or email the theafricanamericanchildrensbookproject.org.
