"A president who governed a divided country has much to teach us in a twenty-first-century moment of polarization and political crisis. Abraham Lincoln was president when implacable secessionists gave no quarter in a clash of visions inextricably bound up with money, power, race, identity, and faith. He was hated and hailed, excoriated and revered. In Lincoln we can see the possibilities of the presidency as well as its limitations. At once familiar...

"Deeply emotional, evocative free verse by poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle traces the solemnity and celebration of Juneteenth from its 1865 origins in Galveston, Texas to contemporary observances all over the United States. This is an ode to the strength of Black Americans and a call to remember and honor a holiday whose importance reverberates far beyond the borders of Texas"--

Presents an overview of the Emancipation Proclamation, including the history leading up to its development, key points from the document itself, and its effects through time. Includes a glossary, further resources, and critical thinking activities using the Common Core.

"The true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone will inspire children to be brave and make a difference. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that most Americans had never heard of the holiday that represents the nation's creed of "freedom for all.""-- "The true story of Black activist Opal Lee and her vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone celebrates...

Describes the holiday known as Juneteenth Day, which has roots in Texas and which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

Discusses the Civil War formation of Contraband Camps, which were communities formed by escaped slaves. As slaves were considered property, the Union Army classified the slaves as seized contraband as a way to avoid the Fugitive Slave Act, which forced escaped slaves to return to the owners. Labeled as contraband, however, the Union army could legally claim the slaves as spoils of war, and in turn, the Union freed them. These contraband camps formed...

"Amid the devastation of war rise the first stirrings of freedom in this absorbing, ground-level narrative by an acclaimed historian. Virginia's Great Valley, prosperous in peace with a rich soil and an enslaved workforce, invited destruction in war. Voracious Union and Confederate armies ground up the valley, consuming crops, livestock, fences, and human life. Pitched battles at Gettysburg, Lynchburg, and Cedar Creek punctuated a cycle of vicious...

Examines the history of Juneteenth and describes some of the ways the holiday is celebrated.

"The Thirteenth Amendment is one of the most important acts in the legal history of the United States. It is often said that the amendment abolished slavery. But its legacy is more complicated than that. The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery except as a form of punishment. Southerners seized on this loophole. They unjustly arrested thousands of Black people. Black convicts were forced to do hard, unpaid labor. In this way, slavery was reconstructed...

"A Flag for Juneteenth depicts a close-knit community of enslaved African Americans on a plantation in Texas, the day before the announcement is to be made that all enslaved people are free. Young Huldah, who is preparing to celebrate her tenth birthday, can't possibly anticipate how much her life will change that Juneteenth morning. The story follows Huldah and her community as they process the news of their freedom and celebrate together by creating...