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Libro.fm offered this audiobook for free on June 19th and I scooped it up and gave it a listen. It's a relatively short book, around 3 hours, but goes into the history of Juneteenth as well as the continued effects of slavery in our country afterwards and the author's personal experience as a Black woman growing up in Texas. Very informative and important, showing the integral role of African Americans in Texas history

Thank you to Libro.fm for making this audiobook free for Juneteenth! In this brief but sprawling and powerful exploration of Juneteenth, native Texan and Pulitzer Prize-winning Harvard historian Annette Gordon-Reed weaves together history with her own experience growing up in Texas, uplifting the impact Black people have had on Texas history and providing a larger, more complex, and utterly alive historical and cultural context for the holiday.

Got this in San Antonio TX. Great book about the history of Texas and about black people‘s contribution to it, as well as the author experience as a black woman growing up in the state

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In just 141 pages, Gordon-Reed weaves together history and personal memories to showcase Texas' long struggle with identity, racism, and trying to adapt in changing times. She discusses the roles both Black people and Native Americans played in the creation of TX (and how they were treated), and she chronicles the significance of Juneteenth both in 1865 and today.

An excellent and approachable presentation of painful US/TX history.

This short book is a mix of Texas history and memoir. As she writes in the “Coda,” Gordon-Reed tried to strike a balance between her love for Texas and its complicated and often controversial history. I think she succeeds and is equal parts critical and curious about the story of her home state as well as her family‘s connections in Eastern Texas. I‘m glad I picked this up.

A frank discussion of how the prospect/fear of shifting power dynamics were a factor to the resistance of changing racial dynamics in America. Learned a lot of new information and gained some new insights into old information. [ i took so many notes!]

Happy Juneteenth!!!! #freedomday #jubilee #texas

This was a very good, quick read. The essays give an overview of Texas history through Black history. The author looks at how one can be both Black and Texan and proud of both, which is not as easy as it may seem. I‘m neither, but I‘ve been trying to balance my love of Texas (lived in San Antonio for a little over a year eons ago) with my knowledge of its many faults, and this helps some. Recommend. Fourth finish of #FabulousFebruary

I‘ve never heard of the Billy Jack franchise (movie/s), but it sure sounds like Walker, Texas Ranger. I wonder if that‘s coincidental or deliberate.

A very brief essay collection on Juneteenth, Texas history, and some memoir.

I admire this work greatly. I learned quite a bit about the history of Texas, and considering it was quite an easy read. 4/5

Tiny but mighty. I didn‘t realize this would be about more than Juneteenth and encompasses much more of Texan history, as it relates to race.

😍

18-20 Dec 2021 (audiobook)
This book suffered from immediately following How the Word is Passed. Comparisons are inevitable: both selected as NYT Books top 10 books of 2021 and both use charismatic narrators to tell the history of slavery. This is, however, a much smaller book - in scope and length. It is more a personal exploration of Juneteenth and the experiences of BIPOC in Texas which did not have a particularly profound impact on me.

This is a great little book that provides the history of Juneteenth, and the treatment of BIPOC in Texas. I learned a lot from this slim book that is part memoir and part history. The only thing I would recommend is to read the print version. The audiobook narration kept making me sleepy.
#nonfiction 2021 #abouthepast
#bookspinbingo

Gordon-Reed examines Texas history, and her family history, through the lens of Juneteenth. This book is captivating and truly remarkable - it may be short in pages, but the events chronicled by Gordon-Reed are important and impactful. So glad I finally took the opportunity to read this one!

With more spare time this month, I‘m hoping to do #bookspin again! Here is my September list. #bookspinbingo

Excellent read. I love books that mix memoir and history together and this one was very well done. Lofty idealism meets poignant facts. I really like that she covered so much of Texas history and touched on all the cultures that make up the state. This one‘s a keeper and definitely recommend it. You‘ll learn about Juneteenth and much more.

Compact, concise book of essays weaving Texas history and personal accounts of life in Texas. Heartfelt and informative, part memoir and part re-teaching of portions of American history. Well done and well written.

I wanted to love this one. It fell a little flat to me. It was interesting as times, but didn't hold my interest overall. Too much of a love letter to Texas

#LittenListen @aperfectmjk

This book was part history, part memoir and such an informative, thoughtful read.

Karen Chilton did a wonderful job narrating it. The emotion she put behind the well-written words was perfect.

Highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about Juneteenth.

I have been remiss in educating myself about this very important date. Changing that now.

Proud Texan Annette Gordon-Reed uses this slim essay collection to discuss the history of Juneteenth, what it means to her and her family, and her experiences as a black woman, including having integrated her school at 7 after Brown v Board of Education. It was a perfect read for today, but is a great book, so would be a good read any day.

I am glad Juneteenth has been recognized and made into a holiday. I wish our library system had more choices/copies for e-book borrows. Placed this on hold yesterday. One copy of this, and have about six weeks wait time. Starting the sample now.

This short but dense book that discuses the history of Texas and how and why Juneteenth came into being is a powerful story that weaves together personal experiences, Texas history and hope for the future as we continue to strive for racial Justice in this country. Well done. Loved the Audiobook.

I don't regret saving this for Juneteenth specifically, but I also feel like I should have read it sooner. Gordon-Reed gave me a lot to mull over in only 135 pages! #nonfiction

Currently Reading this book in preparation for the Juneteenth Holiday.

Reminder #LitsyLoveSummerSwap Opening Day is Sunday June 20th

Can't wait to see all your boxes .#HappySummer

Very informative.

An idiosyncratic list from #TimeMagazine. Enjoy! https://apple.news/ALcjumvfbRCqedxx3A0f9Aw or https://time.com/6050302/best-books-2021-so-far/

While a nice short book, it was not as expected. Still good read thou. Described as history, it reads like a memoir. The topic of Juneteenth isn‘t really mentioned till the final chapter. This book is about the author growing up in Texas and believing the celebration on Juneteenth was only for her community. Since it‘s not well known around the country. Good intro, but not as informational as I was looking for

Came across this newer history book in an Indie bookstore. Juneteenth is a date I understand the basic historic significance, but not the emotional importance as I‘ve been exposed to this past year or so. So, hopefully this helps. I want to learn!
I also had fun “selling books” to a random lady in the bookstore. I was talking about books with a friend and she overheard. Next thing I know she‘s buying both books I was talking about! #indiebookstore

Apparently this author is well known in many circles, as I've come to learn in this book, so maybe this will be obvious to others but as a newbie, this was *great*. A lot of Texas, American, Black, and African American #history told through personal stories and, well, history. It was educational, introductory, and very tragic in it's revelations. Recommended! #nonfiction

#nonfiction books always make me want to research more! #americanhistory #blackhistory #history #africanamericanstudies

HUH I never thought about this! My neighborhoods school when growing up only had a K-8 school (broken into two but still pretty much one school) but now that I'm older and can drive around, I have noticed many elementary and junior highs etc in suburban neighborhoods (all clustered closely) #nonfiction

I'm so behind on my reading goals but I've got a few books I'm interested this month so let's get to them! #nonfiction #juneteenth #americanhistory #blackhistory #texashistory #history