On Juneteenth

By: Annette Gordon-Reed

Narrated by: Karen Chilton

Length: 3 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

The essential, sweeping story of Juneteenth’s integral importance to American history, as told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Texas native.

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 country’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, 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, African Americans played an integral role in the Texas story.

Reworking the traditional “Alamo” framework, she powerfully demonstrates, among other things, that the slave- and race-based economy not only defined the fractious era of Texas independence but precipitated the Mexican-American War and, indeed, the Civil War itself. In its concision, eloquence, and clear presentation of history, On Juneteenth vitally 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.

©2021 Annette Gordon-Reed (P)2021 Recorded Books Inc.

Enlightening

Enjoyed thoroughly! Well read and captured historical events truthfully. I highly recommend this for all ages.

A must listen

Insightful inspiring hopeful sad hard to understand best written balanced telling of Juneteenth. I will look to read her other books as well.

Excellent Introduction

Excellent brief history of Juneteenth and the State of Texas. Provides a beautiful way of looking at America's tortured, violent and racist past that is both honest and hopeful.

Brilliant

A mix of personal memories and historical milestones that brilliantly reveals the crucial place of contingency in the shaping of our history

Moving and informative

This is a must read for all who want to understand the history of Texas and of the United States.

She did it again!

Dr. Brown did it again! she writes compelling stories, but this one blew my mind! As she related personal experiences all I could do is sympathize and think of ways to help race relations. What an eye opener.

Why we should celebrate Juneteenth

Very appreciative of the authors appreciation to delve and articulate the whole of Texas history. No where near anything that was taught to me by the DISD school system to which I’m a product. After two chapters in, I understand why…

An unbiased take on the holiday history

An old person view on a subject I have very little in information about it.

African American Growing Up in Texas

Very well written. I learned so much about the African American experience in Texas.

Great book

This had a lots of great points. enjoy the voice of the reader and history of Juneteenth