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Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days
The first fully illustrated history of Juneteenth and other Emancipation Day celebrations, told through photographs, art, and an engrossing narrative from an award-winning historian.
For more than 150 years, Black communities have gathered to honor freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for true liberation. While Juneteenth has recently gained wider recognition, it was one of many Emancipation Day traditions celebrated across the United States. These observances were spaces of joy, remembrance, and resistance—even as the fight for full freedom was unfinished. This volume brings together stirring essays and striking images from Juneteenth and beyond, offering a sweeping portrait of how Black people have created and sustained rituals of remembrance, a testament to the generations who, through celebration and storytelling, demanded that their contributions to the making of America be fully recognized.
For more than 150 years, Black communities have gathered to honor freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for true liberation. While Juneteenth has recently gained wider recognition, it was one of many Emancipation Day traditions celebrated across the United States. These observances were spaces of joy, remembrance, and resistance—even as the fight for full freedom was unfinished. This volume brings together stirring essays and striking images from Juneteenth and beyond, offering a sweeping portrait of how Black people have created and sustained rituals of remembrance, a testament to the generations who, through celebration and storytelling, demanded that their contributions to the making of America be fully recognized.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionRace
264 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 29, 2026
It was uplifting to see images of proud people who celebrated their freedom through hard work, parades, gatherings, and continue to do this to this day. I was feeling down and less than inspired. I took the advice of Mary Kay, I used to be a Mary Kay representative. I put on my clothes, my make up, and found somewhere to go. I went to the Zionsville Library and walked in the door and the book “Black Freedom” was staring me in the face. It was a wonderful afternoon. Faces of joy, happiness, and determination engross this book of visual history that takes the reader through emancipation and the declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Quote:
BLACK LIFE IN AMERICA is great art - despite often dire circumstances. Survival grounded in the ability to begin again.
So even as we commemorate Juneteenth with new national attention, we must remember what came before. The generations who carried the celebration through years of silence. The communities that kept the memory alive even when it wasn't fashionable or federally recognized. The else's who insisted that we not forget Their work is why we're here.
Quote:
BLACK LIFE IN AMERICA is great art - despite often dire circumstances. Survival grounded in the ability to begin again.
So even as we commemorate Juneteenth with new national attention, we must remember what came before. The generations who carried the celebration through years of silence. The communities that kept the memory alive even when it wasn't fashionable or federally recognized. The else's who insisted that we not forget Their work is why we're here.
June 7, 2026
Though the book is 260 pages, this is really a coffee table book, so half of the book is pictures. The author did lots of research to find the photographs, and so the book also has extensive notes, bibliography, and a comprehensive index.
I picked it up for the history of Juneteenth, though I learned more Annette Gordon-Reed's memoir. This book stands out for the visuals! In fact, in the introduction, the author says: "Oh, what a time! Looking at these images, really looking at them closely, is a reminder that being free is an action, an assertion that must be made again and again. These generations gone by understood that freedom had to be celebrated in order to be preserved. Black Freedom reveals the history of those celebrations, the Black American reassertion of freedom, the insistence on an independent interpretation of a past, and the desire to commemorate their history accurately." [p.xi]
The section on 'Juneteenth Today' also has important take-aways. She says: "Juneteenth has always been more than a holiday. It is rooted in the ancestral memory of survival. It is carried in the joy of children waving flags and elders seated in folding chairs beneath the summer sun. It is the taste of barbecue. The sound of sermons reverberating off the wooden walls of rural churches, the rolling sound and high knees of a Black marching band, and family stories passed down over the generations. It is the story of people who refused to forget, even when the nation preferred that they did. Juneteenth, like all Emancipation Day traditions, does not rely on federal acknowledgements to be deeply felt. With or without the federal holiday, these celebrations have endured because of the Black dedication to resistance and memory across generations. The celebration itself is a form of freedom. . . . As the NAACP made clear, the Emancipation Proclamation was simply the first mile of a long and unfinished journey. "The emancipation of said slaves was not an end within itself, but the beginning of a long struggle for equality and justice that continues today." [p. 163]
"Juneteenth is about family. It's a community. It's personal and ancestral. It didn't require federal recognition to survive. It lives on in the hearts of descendants of those who heard the news of their freedom at last, on June 19, 1865." [p. 164] The pictures of Opal Lee, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" are such a good way to end this book. With President Biden awarding her the Medal of Freedom on May 3, 2024!
Recognition, importance, history.
I picked it up for the history of Juneteenth, though I learned more Annette Gordon-Reed's memoir. This book stands out for the visuals! In fact, in the introduction, the author says: "Oh, what a time! Looking at these images, really looking at them closely, is a reminder that being free is an action, an assertion that must be made again and again. These generations gone by understood that freedom had to be celebrated in order to be preserved. Black Freedom reveals the history of those celebrations, the Black American reassertion of freedom, the insistence on an independent interpretation of a past, and the desire to commemorate their history accurately." [p.xi]
The section on 'Juneteenth Today' also has important take-aways. She says: "Juneteenth has always been more than a holiday. It is rooted in the ancestral memory of survival. It is carried in the joy of children waving flags and elders seated in folding chairs beneath the summer sun. It is the taste of barbecue. The sound of sermons reverberating off the wooden walls of rural churches, the rolling sound and high knees of a Black marching band, and family stories passed down over the generations. It is the story of people who refused to forget, even when the nation preferred that they did. Juneteenth, like all Emancipation Day traditions, does not rely on federal acknowledgements to be deeply felt. With or without the federal holiday, these celebrations have endured because of the Black dedication to resistance and memory across generations. The celebration itself is a form of freedom. . . . As the NAACP made clear, the Emancipation Proclamation was simply the first mile of a long and unfinished journey. "The emancipation of said slaves was not an end within itself, but the beginning of a long struggle for equality and justice that continues today." [p. 163]
"Juneteenth is about family. It's a community. It's personal and ancestral. It didn't require federal recognition to survive. It lives on in the hearts of descendants of those who heard the news of their freedom at last, on June 19, 1865." [p. 164] The pictures of Opal Lee, the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" are such a good way to end this book. With President Biden awarding her the Medal of Freedom on May 3, 2024!
Recognition, importance, history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quick Summary: A "precious artifact" of historical and cultural significance
My Review: Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days by Blair LM Kelley is categorized as "Arts & Photography | History." It is scheduled for release on 6/2/26.
About the Book: "The first fully illustrated history of Juneteenth and other Emancipation Day celebrations, told through photographs, art, and an engrossing narrative...
This volume brings together stirring essays and striking images from Juneteenth and beyond, offering a sweeping portrait of how Black people have created and sustained rituals of remembrance, a testament to the generations who, through celebration and storytelling, demanded that their contributions to the making of America be fully recognized."
In My Own Words: A collection of historical lessons, stories, photos, illustrations, and shared experiences celebrating emancipation and Black pride
My Final Say: This book is important. It is relevant and telling. I loved that it visually depicted the lives of those challenged by, impacted by, moved by, and changed by the events of times past. It made the desired hope for freedom and the eventual act of emancipation that much more profound and meaningful.
I was particularly captivated by the engrossing narrative mentioned. Further, the pictures brought home how connected the days gone by are to the present moments in the fight for freedom.
As I read the words and the history of a proud, resilient, beautiful people, I was touched by the strength, the tenacity, the courage, the conviction, and the drive for equality, justice, and freedom. Despite the setbacks, the violence, the hardships, the vengeful acts, the un-Christian actions, the biased and discriminatory laws, and the political abuses, Blacks still recognized the importance of Black pride, Black excellence, and the Black spirit of elevation.
This project merely offers a glimpse of what was, even as it hopefully inspires what can be. I pray that the stories and lessons continue on; they need to be told... and more pictures based in truth (vs. the tainted exaggerations and caricatures created by those who would have a proud people be ignorant and silenced) need to be seen.
I highly recommend this book to all people who are brave enough and bold enough to face history as it was, as well as to those who want to see "justice for all" become a reality for the emancipated and the freedom seekers of the 21st century.
Other: This would be an excellent book club read. It would also be ideal as a resource for a history curriculum focused on middle school, high school, and college students. I think it would do well as a featured text for Reconstruction history, multicultural studies, African American studies, and general U.S. history.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G (Ages 13 and up)
Status/Level: : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Format: 📱
Cover: +
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers | Black Dog & Leventhal), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity.
My Review: Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days by Blair LM Kelley is categorized as "Arts & Photography | History." It is scheduled for release on 6/2/26.
About the Book: "The first fully illustrated history of Juneteenth and other Emancipation Day celebrations, told through photographs, art, and an engrossing narrative...
This volume brings together stirring essays and striking images from Juneteenth and beyond, offering a sweeping portrait of how Black people have created and sustained rituals of remembrance, a testament to the generations who, through celebration and storytelling, demanded that their contributions to the making of America be fully recognized."
In My Own Words: A collection of historical lessons, stories, photos, illustrations, and shared experiences celebrating emancipation and Black pride
My Final Say: This book is important. It is relevant and telling. I loved that it visually depicted the lives of those challenged by, impacted by, moved by, and changed by the events of times past. It made the desired hope for freedom and the eventual act of emancipation that much more profound and meaningful.
I was particularly captivated by the engrossing narrative mentioned. Further, the pictures brought home how connected the days gone by are to the present moments in the fight for freedom.
As I read the words and the history of a proud, resilient, beautiful people, I was touched by the strength, the tenacity, the courage, the conviction, and the drive for equality, justice, and freedom. Despite the setbacks, the violence, the hardships, the vengeful acts, the un-Christian actions, the biased and discriminatory laws, and the political abuses, Blacks still recognized the importance of Black pride, Black excellence, and the Black spirit of elevation.
This project merely offers a glimpse of what was, even as it hopefully inspires what can be. I pray that the stories and lessons continue on; they need to be told... and more pictures based in truth (vs. the tainted exaggerations and caricatures created by those who would have a proud people be ignorant and silenced) need to be seen.
I highly recommend this book to all people who are brave enough and bold enough to face history as it was, as well as to those who want to see "justice for all" become a reality for the emancipated and the freedom seekers of the 21st century.
Other: This would be an excellent book club read. It would also be ideal as a resource for a history curriculum focused on middle school, high school, and college students. I think it would do well as a featured text for Reconstruction history, multicultural studies, African American studies, and general U.S. history.
Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: G (Ages 13 and up)
Status/Level: : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Format: 📱
Cover: +
Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers | Black Dog & Leventhal), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I am grateful for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Black Freedom: A Visual History of Juneteenth and Emancipation Days by Blair LM Kelley
I generally avoid visual histories as I find they often serve better on a coffee table than they do as a learning tool. Luckily, Black Freedom manages to avoid such pitfalls by supplying ample information to go alongside the many images. This book is a perfect case of you’re getting exactly what you expect. If the title seems interesting to you, this book absolutely will deliver. Tracking the history of Juneteenth from the Civil War to today, the book starts with a couple of dozen pages explaining the history before providing many pictures as promised. I could see complaints that this book even has too many pages dedicated to words, but I found the ratio between words and pictures was more than sufficient (and it is a book after all). Ultimately, I was very pleased with what Black Freedom had to offer and enjoyed seeing the history of a holiday, both old and young, in American culture. I did read this book digitally and can’t speak to the quality of pictures in print, but online, they were high quality. 4 stars.
I generally avoid visual histories as I find they often serve better on a coffee table than they do as a learning tool. Luckily, Black Freedom manages to avoid such pitfalls by supplying ample information to go alongside the many images. This book is a perfect case of you’re getting exactly what you expect. If the title seems interesting to you, this book absolutely will deliver. Tracking the history of Juneteenth from the Civil War to today, the book starts with a couple of dozen pages explaining the history before providing many pictures as promised. I could see complaints that this book even has too many pages dedicated to words, but I found the ratio between words and pictures was more than sufficient (and it is a book after all). Ultimately, I was very pleased with what Black Freedom had to offer and enjoyed seeing the history of a holiday, both old and young, in American culture. I did read this book digitally and can’t speak to the quality of pictures in print, but online, they were high quality. 4 stars.
September 9, 2026
This book felt like walking through a well-curated museum that does history justice, while also underlining the necessity of honoring the past so that you can fully appreciate the progress it has afforded us. As a Richmond, Virginia native, I loved seeing the city come up multiple times.
This was a bite-sized textbook with almost a gallery-walk feel to it—joy, pain, and resilience. Certainly a coffee table book that I need. While the book is not the thickest, I feel as though I took my time with it. And if one wanted to investigate the notes and footnotes further, that’s a whole entire course in itself.
It was well researched and presented in a way that could be accessible to many.
This was a bite-sized textbook with almost a gallery-walk feel to it—joy, pain, and resilience. Certainly a coffee table book that I need. While the book is not the thickest, I feel as though I took my time with it. And if one wanted to investigate the notes and footnotes further, that’s a whole entire course in itself.
It was well researched and presented in a way that could be accessible to many.
June 20, 2026
Advanced review copy from NetGalley.
Excellent coffee table book as well as elementary school primer for Juneteenth and other emancipatory celebrations. The author has compiled a plethora of historical pictures and documents. Several pictures lured me in to let the image linger before moving to the next. Finally, the notes section is very well researched and one could spend several years making their way through the connections.
Highly recommended.
Excellent coffee table book as well as elementary school primer for Juneteenth and other emancipatory celebrations. The author has compiled a plethora of historical pictures and documents. Several pictures lured me in to let the image linger before moving to the next. Finally, the notes section is very well researched and one could spend several years making their way through the connections.
Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dr Kelley has done it again. So many beautiful photographs, so much Black joy on display! Meticulously researched, as always, this book covers the history of Black freedom celebrations from the early emancipation celebrations up to today's Juneteenth holiday. Dr Kelley's writing is clear and engaging, but the images are the real star of this book.
September 13, 2026
such a beautiful collection of essays, images, and documents from emancipation to today. really lovely essays packed with information on slavery, the civil war, emancipation, and celebrations of freedom from reconstruction, through the jim crow era and the civil rights era, ending with images of celebrations from the last 15 years. learned a lot!
July 18, 2026
A beautiful book … Juneteenth history through photographs and brief words. Well researched and stirring. Lengthy resources section. Can be read page to page or skimmed by chapter or read at random on whatever page you opened.
A potential “coffee table” book.
A potential “coffee table” book.
July 22, 2026
Great pictures and very good research from an historical aspect.
August 4, 2026
Well researched, educational on the difference in emancipation day celebrations.
Wonderful pictures, and memorabilia from events.
Wonderful pictures, and memorabilia from events.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews