Juneteenth celebration in 1900 at Eastwoods Park. Photo credit: Austin HistoryCenter via NMAAHC.On June 19, 1865, a word echoed through the land of Galveston,Texas: freedom. Coming some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the250,000+ enslaved African Americans under Confederate control in Texas werefinally, by federal decree, freed. Juneteenth, as it came to be known,represents the anniversary of the emancipation announcement in Texas, and iscelebrated each year on June 19.Indeed, federal lawmakers this month offered a hopeful step in the direction ofjustice as, some 155 years after liberation, President Biden signed into law anact which makes Juneteenth a federal holiday. Yet, the work is far from over.While the celebrations of the independence date kick off, let's take a moment toreflect and review the history of Juneteenth and the necessity of giving back(in whatever form that may take) on the anniversary of liberation. Juneteenth marked the beginning of a new era: Reconstruction. For the first timein American History, Black folks were able to travel at their own volition,reunite with their families, and work whatever job they liked. After thehardship of the Civil War, notions of such freedom were intoxicating, and spreadthrough communities like wildfire. Celebrations followed quickly after.Prominent Black politicians gave speeches to crowds while Black veterans donnedtheir military gear. Hymns, spirituals, and ignited discussion aboutemancipation flooded the streets. The celebrations that took hold of Blackcommunities throughout the nation were, in and of itself, an act of resistanceto a nation emerging from war and uncertainty. Yet, the instability was far fromover.Emancipation Day Celebration in Richmond, Virginia ca. 1905. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emancipation_Day_in_Richmond,_Virginia,_1905.jpg]: As the celebration faded, uncertainty began to rise. The opportunitiespurportedly assured to Black Americans in the Emancipation Proclamation's clauseof "absolute equality[https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/artist-behind-galveston-juneteenth-mural/]" were, in reality, not all that assured. After all, emerging from the war wereConfederate officials and soldiers to whom the notion of Black liberation wasless than desired, and in many cases was met with harsh and violent retaliation. What's more: Four million individuals were suddenly without means to provide forthemselves. In this sense, emancipation was followed by a humanitarian crisisthat prompted the difficult question: what now? And how? While the Unionmilitary remained in the Confederate south to protect, house, and mitigate theresponse to newly freed African Americans, Black communities throughout thenation quickly came to the difficult realization that the majority of work toreconstruct the nation would not be aided by the federal government, much lessthe white public. Yet, into the 20th century, Black Americans persevered. The celebration ofJuneteenth has grown since its resurgence in the 1960s, calling for remembranceand recompense each June. Though the act which creates a federal holiday for thedate is a largely symbolic gesture, it urges a reflection on the hardship,inequity, and systematic oppression that has been suffered by Black Americansfor hundreds of years. While celebrations, parades, speeches and othercommemorative events kick off, consider making a donation[https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=4710] to aBlack-owned business or charity this Juneteenth. Photo credit: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta.To learn more about the history ofJuneteenth and its celebration into the modern day, check out the official Juneteenth website [https://juneteenth.com/history/].