In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. The now-federal holiday has been celebrated annually on June 19th across the United States since 1865 and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people.

To honor this historical moment, Black history and Black culture, the African American Center has curated a display at the Grove Street entrance of the Main Library. The display includes photos dating back to early Juneteenth celebrations, as well as images from more recent celebrations from the Bay Area and around the United States. The display includes information about the history of Juneteenth as well as ideas for thinking of Black liberation and reparations beyond a federal holiday.

For Main Library hours visit https://sfpl.org/locations/

For information about the exhibit visit: https://bit.ly/Beyond_Juneteenth

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Image above : Anaja Campbell (far right) and the Denver Dancing Diamonds perform at 27th in Historic Five Points during the Juneteenth Celebration parade that started at Manual High School commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. June 20, 2015, Denver, CO. Photo By Joe Amon/The Denver Post

Background image below : Juneteenth celebration at Hilltop Park, Hunters Point, June 19, 1979. San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Records, San Francisco History Center.