Wake Forest News

Associated Press

As Juneteenth is celebrated across the US, Obama’s presidential center opens in Chicago

As people gather across the U.S. to celebrate Juneteenth on Friday, former President Barack Obama’s presidential center will open its doors to the public for the first time. Divinity school dean Corey D.B. Walker said the holiday offers a way to recognize the nation’s “complex history” and what it means to be a U.S. citizen, especially during efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to undermine the retelling of Black history. “I think it really reminds people of the importance of understanding a fuller, more robust portrait of our nation’s history and the many contributions of many individuals who have contributed to America’s experiment with democracy,” Walker said.

This article ran in hundreds of news outlets nationwide.

June 19, 2026

MinnPost

6 books that explain the history and meaning of Juneteenth

After decades of being celebrated at mostly the local level, Juneteenth – the long-standing holiday that commemorates the arrival of news of emancipation and freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 – became a federal holiday in 2021. In honor of Juneteenth, The Conversation reached out to Wake Forest University humanities professor Corey D. B. Walker for a list of readings that can help people better understand the history and meaning of the observance. Here are his picks.

This story was originally published in The Conversation.

June 19, 2026