What We’re Reading, Watching, and Listening to on Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were free.

In honor of this Juneteenth, we’re sharing 10 things to read, watch, and listen to:

READ

• 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine. Launched in 2019, this famous initiative reframes our national narrative by looking at it through the lens of American slavery and promotes the contributions of Black Americans throughout our history.
• Reckoning with the “Selma of the North” on the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 by Patrick Jones. This article reflects on the history of housing discrimination in our country, as well as how Black advocates in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, fought for the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968.
• Growing Up with Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed. Gordon-Reed reflects on her childhood memories in Texas and what Juneteenth meant to her family and community.

WATCH

• High on the Hog, Netflix: This docuseries travels from Texas to Africa, following the origins of Black food and how it became the foundation of American food.
• Juneteenth: A Celebration of Overcoming, Hulu: This ABC primetime special looks at how communities across the U.S. celebrate Juneteenth, as well as how the legacy of this day still impacts America.
• They’ve Gotta Have Us, Netflix: This miniseries showcases the inside story of Black cinema in America, featuring powerful and candid interviews from famous Black actors.

LISTEN

• Black History Year, PushBlack: This podcast investigates Black history, activists, and leaders that many people may not know about and connects this history to current events in America.
• Louder Than A Riot, NPR: This podcast traces the connection between hip hop, the Black community, and the U.S. criminal justice system, delving deep into the personal stories of Black musicians.
• Code Switch, NPR: Journalists tackle important conversations about race in America in this podcast and how it impacts every facet of U.S. society.
• The Stoop: This podcast examines stories of the Black diaspora in America, and how Blackness is viewed and discussed both in the U.S. and globally.