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“On Juneteenth is an excellent history lesson wrapped in a memoir. Gordon-Reed has written a moving personal story of Texas, exploring what it means to be a Texan, specifically what it means for her, a Black woman descended from enslaved people. And - it’s complicated. She intertwines her own story with the story of Texas from its days as part of Mexico to today, and her celebrations of Juneteenth with its history. Her love of Texas, created through her childhood there in the embrace of her family and their traditions, sits in contrast to much of the state’s past, from its colonization by Spain through the years of enslavement of others by various groups, the Civil War, and 20th century civil rights battles to the legacies of all that history in present-day Texas. Her examination of the history and legacies through a very personal lens makes this a wonderful listen, perfect now as we approach Juneteenth and it’s possible designation as a national holiday.”
— Nancy • Raven Book Store
Summary
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 nation’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, one 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, AfricanAmericans played an integral role in the Texas story. Significantly, they shared the land with Indigenous people who faced their own conflicts with EuropeanAmericans, creating a volatile racial tableau whose legacies still haunt usReworking the traditional “Alamo” framework, she shows how the contentious history of the Lone Star State can provide us with a fresh and illuminating perspective on our country’s past and its possible futures. In its concision, eloquence, and clear presentation of history, On Juneteenthvitally 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.
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