Juneteenth

Starr Library will be closed in honor of Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19th. Also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, or Emancipation Day, it celebrates the emancipation of people who had been enslaved in America and is commemorated on the anniversary of the June 19, 1865 announcement in Galveston, Texas by Union Army General Gordon Granger, who proclaimed freedom from slavery. 

New York State recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday for the first time in 2021. This does not mean that the day has not been long commemorated by Black communities across the country. Today the summer holiday is often celebrated by large get-togethers, cookouts, music, and food. Here in Rhinebeck, it is a moment to highlight and celebrate Black culture and history, from Revolutionary War soldier Andrew Frazier to the Black families who lived on Oak St. in the 19th century. It is also a moment to confront the Hudson Valley’s history of enslavement. Starr is dedicated to providing books, materials, and resources that help in educating and informing the community about Black history in Rhinebeck, from the enslavement of Africans by families in our area and the generational, white wealth it produced, to telling the stories of Rhinebeck’s Black citizens through primary source materials with our partners at Rhinebeck Historical Society and Dutchess County Historical Society. 

Come visit us at Starr Library during the month of June to see how we’re commemorating Juneteenth. Our goal is to center Black liberation movements and Black joy as well as helping educate the community about the history and legacy of slavery in the Hudson Valley and in our country at large.