Nashville Public Library is ready to celebrate Black Music Month and Juneteenth 2026 with you.
Get together at NPL for book clubs and festivities, and check out their reading suggestions online.
A celebration of the story of Black freedom in America, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a national holiday in 2021, but its observance and traditions have existed for more than a century. Take a look at books, events, and learning tools about Juneteenth from NPL on the NPL website. Here’a a chronological look at a few FREE programs of note at NPL this month:
Humans Over Hate: Panel & Conversation by Nashville Public Library Special Collections
Nashville Public Library Bordeaux Branch Thursday, June 11 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
How can Tennesseans build solidarity, advocate for one another, and stand against hate in our city and beyond? As Tennessee’s first human rights agency, the Metro Human Relations Commission has spent more than 60 years advancing dignity, safety, and belonging for all people. This Millions of Conversations event joins with Humans Over Hate, MHRC’s initiative confronting the rise of hate-related acts while fostering greater understanding and connection across our communities, to build on their last conversation — how is technology furthering dividing us, and what are the opportunities to instead use it to unite us as humans? A guided discussion facilitated by trained MoC facilitators follows the panel discussion. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the program begins at 6:00pm. Free parking and admission.
Party Like a Librarian By Main Library (Downtown) Saturday, June 13 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Celebrate the 25th anniversary and recent reopening of the Main Library, a celebration in honor of the Main Library’s 25-year anniversary and recent reopening, with music, snacks, library swag, and more. Throw on your favorite cardigan and celebrate downtown at 615 Church Street. Here’s a little of what’s planned for the day: Wishing Chair Productions presents “The Stonecutter”; DJ FORGOOD spinning vinyl from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM; Concert for kids; Bingo in the Grand Reading Room; Face-painting and balloon artists; and a Library 101 tour.
Conversations@NPL with Mary Frances Berry Wednesday, June 17 6:30 PM NPL 615 Church Street
Mary Frances Berry – longtime civil rights, gender equity, and social justice advocate – gives the final Author Talk in the Conversations@NPL 2026 season on labor. Moderated by humanities scholar Tasneem Grace, Professor Berry discusses two of her acclaimed works: “My Face Is Black Is True,” which reveals Callie House’s early fight for reparations, and “Slavery After Slavery,” which exposes the system of forced child apprenticeships that harmed Black families after Emancipation. Register on Eventbrite and get more information about Discounted parking availability, at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conversationsnpl-an-evening-with-mary-frances-berry-tickets-1988421220397?aff=bedework
Soundcheck: Juneteenth June 18, 2026 4:00 PM at the East Nashville Branch of NPL
A night of poetry, music, and community conversation celebrating Juneteenth through live performances and storytelling. Featuring youth and adult artists, “Soundcheck: Juneteenth” creates space for reflection, creativity, cultural expression, and intergenerational connection. Recommended for ages 12 and up. All ages welcome.
Don’t miss out on NPL’s amazing free Summer Reading Challenge, June 1–July 31.
Read, complete activities, and earn prizes; no library card required. Register online or get a paper log at a branch and receive a reusable bag when you register in person. Track reading and activities: log reading for 15 days and get a prize; complete 10 activities to win a prize. https://library.nashville.gov/events/summer-reading
Mary Frances Berry
Mary Frances Berry was born in Nashville, Tennessee, the second of the three children of George Ford and Frances Berry (née Southall). Because of economic hardship and family circumstances, she and her older brother were placed in an orphanage for a time. Berry attended Nashville’s segregated schools. In 1956, she graduated with honors from Pearl High School. She attended Fisk University in Nashville, where her primary interests were philosophy, history, and chemistry. Berry transferred to Howard University, where in 1961 she received her B.A. In 1962, she received her M.A. from Howard. In 1966, Berry received a Ph.D. in American constitutional history from the University of Michigan. In 1970, she earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Berry spent seven years working at the University of Maryland, eventually becoming interim provost of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences. In 1976, she became chancellor of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, the first black woman to head a major research university. In 1977, Berry took a leave of absence from the University of Colorado when President Jimmy Carter named her assistant secretary for education in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfar
In 1980, Berry left the Department of Education to return to Howard University as a professor of history and law. Carter appointed her to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, where she served from 1980–2004 as Chairman from 1993–2004. From 1987 until the present, she is the University of Pennsylvania, Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought.
