In this insightful review\, Dr. Clovis Shane LeMar explores the confluence of events that marked the inception of the first Juneteent h celebrations&mdash\;a triumphant moment arising from the American Civil War without a single shot being fired. Delving into the historical signifi cance\, this piece sheds light on the journey towards recognizing Juneteen th as a national holiday\, offering valuable lessons that resonate with th e essence of freedom and unity in American history.
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The \;Broward County African American Research Library a
nd Cultural Center \;(AARLCC) \;is located in the Sistrunk communi
ty\, one of the oldest historically Black communities named for one of For
t Lauderdale&rsquo\;s first Black physicians. Opening to the public on Oct
ober 26\, 2002\, AARLCC became the third public library of its kind in the
United States dedicated to the study of Black history and culture. The 60
\,000 square-foot Center serves as a repository of materials related to th
e local\, national\, and international voices of the African diaspora with
more than 85\,000 books\, manuscripts\, artifacts\, framed art\, print\,
photography\, audiovisual\, and documents held in our Adult Services Secti
on and Special Collections. The Youth Services Section features a special
collection of Coretta Scott King Award books and the \;Ashley Bryan Ar
t Collection \;from illustrators of African Descent. AARLCC also featu
res a 5\,000 sq. ft. museum\, a 300-seat state-of-the-art theatre\, and a
Computer Training Center.