In honor of Juneteenth – now designated as a statewide holiday – the New York Public Library has released a Black Liberation Reading List for young readers.
The list comes from the 95-year-old NYPL Schomburg Research Center for Research in Black Culture and includes 65 book titles aimed at teaching children and youth about black experiences, history, and current events.
“It is very important to remember, honor and celebrate Juneteenth, a critical moment in the history of our nation, and a moment that continues to have an extraordinary impact on today’s events,” Schomburg Center director Kevin Young said in a press release. The June 19 holiday, one of the oldest in America, marked the release of the last US slave – in Galveston, Texas – on June 19, 1865.
“Without honest contemplation and discussion, there will be no progress,” Young continued, adding that if everyone took the time to better understand the black experience, “real change could occur.”
This list includes the board books “A Is for Activist” and “Antiracist Baby,” and “Brown Girl Dreaming” Jacqueline Woodson and “The Day You Begin.”
The Library has made “as many copies of the titles as possible,” available to explore and borrow free of charge through the Library digital collection.
That Schomburg Shop The manager, Rio Cortez, began compiling a list after the murder of George Floyd.
“Many of our customers are connected to the Schomburg Shop specifically for books by black and chocolate authors whose work allows black and brown children to see themselves in a complete and dynamic way,” Cortez said.
Last week, the Schomburg Center released a Black Liberation Reading List for adults. Within eight days, the list had received 7,000 checks, the library said.
In June and throughout the following week, some of the books listed will be read by authors, politicians and librarians on library social channels. The full virtual programming list will be shared at NYPL website.
