"Juneteenth" is short for June 19, a poignant holiday that hasn't been on the radar of many Americans until recently. Juneteenth is a milestone in African American history. It serves as an inspiration for a more just and equitable future for all Americans.

Juneteenth marks the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved Americans would be belatedly released from bondage.

History buffs may point out that the President issued the monumental Emancipation Proclamation years earlier. On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared "that all persons held as slaves are, and henceforward shall be free." But many enslaved people hadn't heard the news. The troops arrived in Galveston two and a half years after the Civil War had ended and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was penned. Texas had managed to operate somewhat independently of the legislative changes. For that reason, many slave-holders moved to the Lone Star state, with 250,000 stolen human beings in the balance. Many slavers-masters withheld the announcement until after harvest crops had been picked by enslaved hands for a final time.

The following June 1866, formerly enslaved people celebrated the first Jubilee Day, a massive outpouring of song, gratitude, praise, prayer, and soul food, bringing the Juneteenth tradition to other parts of the nation as they moved onward and upward.

Hang some Juneteenth art in your home as a welcoming image for a big barbecue party, or enjoy it year-round, honoring the historic strides toward social liberty and justice for all and the long road ahead. That's a great aspect of framed canvas art: it's easy to move, making a change in décor possible in minutes.

Juneteenth I Canvas Print Canvas by Gia Graham

A sweet and straightforward graphic treatment honors the date with a stylized floral that suggests a 19th-century etching. Blossoms and leaves flourish above the Texas Lone Star, rendered in sweet pastels.

Strength in Numbers Canvas Print by Manasseh Johnson

While the message of Juneteenth is one of hope and progress, it is not a placid occasion. In this monumental realistic portrait, the artist depicts four of the most influential Black activist leaders in world history: Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Frederick Douglass. Their linked arms and tightly spaced stance bring to mind the lyric of the gospel hymn, "Like a tree that's planted by the water, / We shall not be moved." In the background, we see the figures of uncounted thousands of Black men, all dressed in suits and ties, who carry on the journey behind them. Of the four leaders, only Mandela smiles. The others, steely Malcolm X in particular, are clearly prepared to stand for justice and equality by any means necessary.

Juneteenth Canvas Prints Canvas by Synthia SAINT JAMES

For a burst of pure joy celebrating African ancestry, consider this vibrant modernist piece that contrasts a hot tropical palette with Black skin in a range of hues. Stylized forms of men, women, and children come together in an electrifying jumble of saturated oranges, lime greens, yellows, blues, purples, and deep magenta pinks.

What may initially seem like a colorful jigsaw puzzle abstract, in fact, tells a story. Beginning at the center of the painting, a figure in a straw hat plays the banjo. The banjo finds its roots as an indigenous harp instrument of West Africa, where it is still played with grass strings. This player may be understood as a griot, an ancestral keeper of the old ways. Behind the griot is a tall, dark-skinned man wearing a traditional African hat. To the left of the banjo player, two figures, draped in red, white, and blue stripes punctuated by a single star, represent the presence of European powers in the African continent and in vast diaspora communities worldwide. A tiny baby, symbolizing the future, nestles in a backpack of an adult on the left edge of the crowded scene, where all the figures look upward, eyes on the prize.

Plant Hugger Canvas Print Canvas by Christine Rotolo

Yes, there is such a thing as Black Girl Magic, equal parts Black and Girl. For a living room, bedroom, or bath where relaxation is welcome, check out this luscious modern portrayal of a Black woman in her power as a nurturing force of nature. She's surrounded by lush, thriving potted green plants suspended from the ceiling and perched on every surface, even trailing up the wall around her window. The woman tenderly cradles a large plant in her arms. Her natural hair is worn in twists, and her feet are bare, her toes honored with pops of bright red nail enamel. Behind her on the wall is a painting of a tropical paradise. While the vibrance of the vegetation places her in an African space, the plush velvet sofa and the gilt baroque frame of the painting behind her reference the colonial past.

Tyler F Boy Canvas Print Canvas by Nikita Abakumov

For a compelling insight into the Black experience, consider this dynamic portrayal of a Black man in a cryptic setting. From his build, he appears young and fit and is dressed in work clothes. His arms are folded as he surveys a vast green valley. Sunflowers, a symbol of optimism, flourish around his feet, and his face is obscured by an enormous bumble bee, one of several hovering around him.

The bumble bee is indigenous to North America, perhaps contextualizing the African American man in time and place. Unlike honey bees, they do not make honey. However, they are valuable pollinators, build complex hives, and follow a sophisticated social order.

It's worth noting that the bumble bee is now endangered. Perhaps the man looking over the valley feels equally threatened as he surveys an uncertain future.

Black is Beautiful Canvas Print Canvas by lettered & lined

Say it loud and proud! The jubilation of the simple phrase, "Black is Beautiful," can't be argued. This elegant canvas art is ideal for any room in your home and office, capturing the motto in a loose, modern script cursive, unspooling over three abstract feminine faces rendered in a Matisse-like collage style, with skin tones ranging from café au lait to espresso.

Artwork celebrating Black identity and African American pride stirs many deep emotions. Most transcendent is the powerful sense of determination in the face of struggle, expressed in various ways by these diverse works of art. To quote the late Poet Laureate Maya Angelou, "… wouldn't take nothin' for my journey now", Juneteenth, and every day.