Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives’ Banneker-Douglass Museum Celebrates Juneteenth with Free Book Giveaway for Local Youth

ANNAPOLIS, MD – The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives’ Banneker-Douglass Museum will celebrate Juneteenth, a day which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, with a free book giveaway for local youth. “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave” will be made available through Friday, June 22 for youth visiting the museum; the giveaway is geared toward 3rd-12th grade readers.

“This is an important day for the museum, for Maryland, and for this country, as the prosperity of a nation is dependent on the freedom and well-being of its people,” said Chanel Compton, Director of the Banneker-Douglass Museum. “In February of this year, Governor Hogan signed a proclamation declaring 2018 as the ‘Year of Frederick Douglass.’ As the home state of famed abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, it is fitting that we honor his lifelong mission of freedom for all in celebrating Juneteenth on the bicentennial of his birth.”

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, is observed annually on June 19. The holiday is considered the oldest African American holiday observance, and commemorates the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas – the last remaining state to allow slavery – in 1865. In 2014, Maryland became the 43rd state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.

Juneteenth celebrations have been planned throughout the state to observe the holiday with events focused on community building, cultural enrichment, and education. Marylanders are encouraged to join in honoring the work, life, and legacy of noted abolitionists and civil rights activists such as Frederick Douglass while learning about Maryland’s rich African American history by attending one of the events happening throughout Maryland, and by visiting the Banneker-Douglass museum to learn of Maryland’s rich African American history.

The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.

To learn more about Banneker-Douglass Museum, visit: http://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/