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amh007's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Well-written and informative. Wish there had been even more about the history of African Americans in 19th c Texas.
omegabeth's review against another edition
5.0
Such a great writer, combining memoir and history and bringing to light history that I feel like I should have known…
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
A historical look at Juneteenth from a black texan perspective. I do not know a lot of details of more southern history - just wide brush strokes so this book held a lot of details critical look at how history has been presented.
slichto3's review against another edition
4.0
On Juneteenth is insightful, engaging, and fascinating. It blends personal stories and historical stories in way that strengthens both. It includes essays about the author and their experience in Texas and around Juneteenth, and then about the history of Texas, Juneteenth, and America in general. I'd recommend it.
lillimoore's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent reflection on the historical events surrounding Juneteenth and the author's personal experience growing up black in Texas during the Civil Rights movement. This book was so well written and engaging and jam-packed with really important information about the history and sociology of Texas and of this country. Anyone looking to learn more about our newest and long overdue federal holiday should pick this up—it's a quick, easy, poignant read that truly expanded my understanding. (As an aside, I would just like to add: making Juneteenth a national holiday skips over many of the more essential things that should be done for the black community in this country, including reparations, addressing the prison pipeline and other issues incarcerated black people face, and also simply not having our police murder unarmed black people in the streets).
My only qualm with it was that at times it felt a bit rushed, as though it needed to be published just in time for this moment in history, and parts felt like they could have been expanded on a bit more. Definitely recommend this to all and can't wait to read the author's writings on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings—that sounds pretty fucked up and juicy as hell! She's brilliant and I am sure she has astounding things to say.
My only qualm with it was that at times it felt a bit rushed, as though it needed to be published just in time for this moment in history, and parts felt like they could have been expanded on a bit more. Definitely recommend this to all and can't wait to read the author's writings on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings—that sounds pretty fucked up and juicy as hell! She's brilliant and I am sure she has astounding things to say.
pumanupes's review against another edition
5.0
A quick and page-turning history book & memoir, blending a high-level account with a historian's personal experience growing up Black in Texas. I found it intriguing, historically inclusive, and personal. I appreciated the author's ability to ground Texan culture in its history, to some extent shedding light on why Texas is the way it is racially. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn why Juneteenth is such a specifically Texan day of celebration, and how to appreciate it.
Things I did not know:
- I did not know that some Tejanos originally sided with these white entrepreneurs.
- I did not know that Texan law, as part of the foundation of its 10-year existence as a sovereign nation, contained explicit, intentional language regarding slavery and Blacks' inability to be free anywhere within Texan lands. "SEC 6. All free white persons who emigrate to this republic... " and "SEC 9. All persons of color who were slaves for life previous to their emigration to Texas and who are now held in bondage shall remain in the like state of servitude: provided, ... "No free person of African descent, either in whole or in part, shall be permitted to reside permanently in the republic without the consent of congress...".
- I knew nothing of the complicated history involving Native Americans in Texas lands. I know admittedly very little about Native Americans; this was exceedingly clear to me while I read.
- While I had a vague understanding that Juneteenth was the Black celebration of emancipation, there was much I did not know about the history of the holiday. I did not know that after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in early April 1865, ending the Civil War, Texan separatists continued to fight for two more months, in part simply because news had not yet reached them.
- I did not know that the last battle in this war that Texan Confederate soldiers fought, they had in fact won, and thus the emotion, rage, and confusion when it was announced that they'd lost the war was even further compounded.
- I did not know it wasn't until June 19, 1865, that General Order 3, the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the new freedom of all slaves were made in Texas.
- I did not know that some Black people who worked on wharves in Galveston knew about the Emancipation Proclamation in early June due to news coming from sea trade, days before white Texans knew. When they celebrated, I did not know that they were punished.
This book gets a five from me. Despite my overall disdain for Texas, by the end, I could feel the inner rumblings of an appreciation for the complexity of the state's whitewashed history. I am beginning to understand why the author, a Black historian, might hold it with keen interest. Her book, personal stories, and historical accounts wove together beautifully and held my interest throughout. I read the entire book in one sitting.
Things I did not know:
Spoiler
I did not know, for example, that one of the reasons Texas originally wanted to secede from Mexico was that Mexico was becoming anti-slavery. Both white Texans from northern US states and other groups within TX believed that it would be fruitless and [too hard] to capitalize on the lushness and fertility of eastern Texan soil without the use of slaves.- I did not know that some Tejanos originally sided with these white entrepreneurs.
- I did not know that Texan law, as part of the foundation of its 10-year existence as a sovereign nation, contained explicit, intentional language regarding slavery and Blacks' inability to be free anywhere within Texan lands. "SEC 6. All free white persons who emigrate to this republic... " and "SEC 9. All persons of color who were slaves for life previous to their emigration to Texas and who are now held in bondage shall remain in the like state of servitude: provided, ... "No free person of African descent, either in whole or in part, shall be permitted to reside permanently in the republic without the consent of congress...".
- I knew nothing of the complicated history involving Native Americans in Texas lands. I know admittedly very little about Native Americans; this was exceedingly clear to me while I read.
- While I had a vague understanding that Juneteenth was the Black celebration of emancipation, there was much I did not know about the history of the holiday. I did not know that after Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant in early April 1865, ending the Civil War, Texan separatists continued to fight for two more months, in part simply because news had not yet reached them.
- I did not know that the last battle in this war that Texan Confederate soldiers fought, they had in fact won, and thus the emotion, rage, and confusion when it was announced that they'd lost the war was even further compounded.
- I did not know it wasn't until June 19, 1865, that General Order 3, the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the new freedom of all slaves were made in Texas.
- I did not know that some Black people who worked on wharves in Galveston knew about the Emancipation Proclamation in early June due to news coming from sea trade, days before white Texans knew. When they celebrated, I did not know that they were punished.
This book gets a five from me. Despite my overall disdain for Texas, by the end, I could feel the inner rumblings of an appreciation for the complexity of the state's whitewashed history. I am beginning to understand why the author, a Black historian, might hold it with keen interest. Her book, personal stories, and historical accounts wove together beautifully and held my interest throughout. I read the entire book in one sitting.