On June 19, the inaugural commemoration of the Juneteenth federal holiday was held at the University of Arizona. Juneteenth commemorates the arrival of General Gordon Granger to Galveston, Texas, to deliver the message of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. To celebrate the 158th Juneteenth, an audience gathered at Centennial Hall to remember the history, resilience and culture of Black people and communities.
Bilingual Musical Grades K–5
Tomás loves stories. As the young son of migrant farm workers, he spends the summer with his family following the crops north from Texas to Iowa, passing long days in the fields listening to his grandfather, Papa Grande, tell stories. When a chance encounter brings him to the local library, he meets the “Library Lady” who recognizes his thirst for knowledge and encourages him to read. His delight in books is equaled by his pride in teaching Spanish to the Library Lady, trading knowledge and respect between generations and cultures.








