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Freedom Day

Juneteenth has long been celebrated by Black communities across the U.S., and in 2021 President Biden proclaimed June 19th, Juneteenth, a national holiday.

Juneteenth History

First celebrated on June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached the enslaved people in Texas, two years after the conclusion of the Civil War; Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

Remnants of slavery lingered in some former Confederate states which did not officially abolish slavery within their jurisdiction until later. In Sonoma County, citizens of Petaluma, Santa Rosa and Healdsburg included both supporters and opponents of the confederacy.

Local History

In 1954, beloved foster parent and faith leader Marteal Perry brought the celebration to Sonoma County from her hometown of Alta, Texas. She hosted Juneteenth for county residents at her South Wright Road property for many years.

In recognition of Juneteenth 2023, Sonoma County Library locations will be closed on Monday June 19, 2023. Check out the highlighted resources and community celebrations below.

Books, Collections, And Resources:

Check out these recommended books and movies our librarians have created for you:

Celebrating Juneteenth in eBooks, Streaming Media, and more:

Community Events

53rd Annual MLK Community Festival Celebration of Diversity and Inclusion
with the BiblioBus!
Saturday, June 17, 2023
10am - 6pm
Martin Luther King Jr. Park – 1671 Hendley Street, Santa Rosa

The Healdsburg Jazz Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 17, 2023
2pm - 8pm
Healdsburg Plaza- Corner of Healdsburg Avenue and Matheson Street

How Black Foodways shaped American Cuisine
Saturday, June 17, 2023
5pm - 8pm
Sonoma County Center – 276 E Napa Street, Sonoma

Websites

• Juneteenth - National Museum of African American History
  "Juneteenth is a time to gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future. Discover ways to celebrate this African American cultural tradition of music, food and freedom."
• “Black in the Bay”
  An Oakland Public Library blog
• KQED’s Reparations in California
  On the task force to study reparations for Black Californians
• The Black Family: United by History, Restored by Storytelling
  A toolkit to empower families to preserve their own histories