Learn More about Juneteenth with these eBooks

Juneteenth is happening this weekend! Here’s a look at a few e-materials to check out to help celebrate the holiday. Not sure what Juneteenth is? On June 19, 1865, the abolition of slavery was announced in Texas, marking the end of slavery in the United States. First known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth commemorates that critical date in history.

Weaving together American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed’s On Juneteenth provides a historian’s view of the country’s long road to Juneteenth, recounting both its origins in Texas and the enormous hardships that African-Americans have endured in the century since, from Reconstruction through Jim Crow and beyond. 

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed

Book , eBook, Audiobook

Reconstruction chronicles the way in which Americans—black and white—responded to the unprecedented changes unleashed by the war and the end of slavery. It addresses the ways in which the emancipated slaves’ quest for economic autonomy and equal citizenship shaped the political agenda of Reconstruction.

Reconstruction by Eric Foner

eBook

What Truth Sounds Like exists at the tense intersection of the conflict between politics and prophecy – of whether we embrace political resolution or moral redemption to fix our fractured racial landscape. The future of race and democracy hang in the balance.

What Truth Sounds Like by Michael Eric Dyson

Book, eBook, Audiobook

In the Spotlight: Lin-Manuel Miranda

In celebration of In the Heights arriving on the big screen this month, we’re highlighting some of the great work by the creative genius Lin-Manuel Miranda. From the Broadway stage to the movie screen, Miranda is behind award-winning projects including Hamilton, In the Heights, and more. Enjoy his work and check out these soundtracks and books with help from the Pratt Library!

In The Heights
by Various Artist
Music Soundtrack

Hamilton
by Various Artist
Music Soundtrack
Moana
by Various Artist
Music Soundtrack
Hamilton The Revolution
by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
eBook
In The Heights
by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes
eBook
Gmorning, Gnight!
by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jonny Sun eBook

YA Books to Spotlight for Pride Month

Happy Pride Month! This week on Pratt Chat, we are spotlighting some of our favorite YA books featuring characters or authors from the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Felix Ever After
by Kacen Callender
eBook
What If It’s Us
by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
eBook
Like A Love Story
by Abdi Nazemian
eBook

You Should See Me In A Crown
by Leah Johnson
eBook
Of Fire and Stars
by Audrey Coulthurst and Jordan Saia
eBook
If I Was Your Girl
by Meredith Russo
eBook
Its Not Like It’s A Secret
by Misa Sugiura
eBook

Between Perfect And Real
by Ray Stoeve
eBook
I Will Be Okay
by Bill Elenbark
eBook
The Summer Of Everything
by Julian Winters
eBook
The Year They Burned The Books by Nancy Garden
eBook
Be Dazzled
by Ryan La Sala
eBook

Spotlight on Caribbean Writers

June is a month of celebrations so we didn’t want to forget spotlighting some of our favorite authors for Caribbean Heritage Month. Add these authors to your reading list this month!

Author Spotlight on Marlon James

This notable author was born in Jamaica in 1970. James has won numerous awards including a Man Booker Prize, OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature for fiction, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for fiction, and NAACP Image Award. Currently Marlon James lives in  Minnesota and New York.

Black Leopard, Red Wolf
by Marlon James
eBook

A Brief History Of Seven Killings
by Marlon James
eBook
John Crow’s Devil
by Marlon James
eBook

Author Spotlight on Nicole Dennis-Benn

Dennis-Benn was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. Her writing has received critical acclaim including winning two Lambda Literary Awards. Dennis-Benn is the founder of the Stuyvesant Writing Workshop and lives with her wife in Brooklyn, New York.

Here Comes The Sun
by Nicole Dennis-Benn
eBook
Patsy
by Nicole Dennis-Benn
Book

Here are some more books you will enjoy this Caribbean Heritage Month.

How To Love A Jamaican
by Alexia Arthurs
eBook
Queenie
by Candice Carty-Williams
eBook
Dear Haiti, Love Alaine
by Maika and Maritza Moulite eBook

Free Music to Celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month!

It’s African American Music Appreciation Month! Each June, we celebrate the talent and accomplishments of African American music artists. From pop and rock, to soul and rap, their impact on the music industry and pop culture are undeniable. Take a listen to a few artists featured on Hoopla. Don’t forget, you can check out up to 10 e-materials each month. 

The Off-Season
Artist J. Cole
Music
The Blueprint
Artist Jay-Z
Music
The Best of DMX
Artist DMX
Music

Tracy Chapman
Artist Tracy Chapman
Music
Songs In The Key Of Life
Artist Stevie Wonder
Music
Design Of A Decade 1986/1996
Artist Janet Jackson
Music
Charleston, SC 1966
Artist Darius Rucker
Music
Jaime
Artist Brittany Howard
Music
Lianne La Lianne
Various Artist
Music
Feeling Good: The Very Best of Nina Simone
Artist Nina Simone
Music
Tasha Cobbs Leonard Collection
Artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Music
Bridges
Mickey Guyton
Music