PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire: Juneteenth celebrations unfolded across the US on Thursday, marking the day in 1865 when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Texas and attracting participants who said current events strengthened their resolve to be heard. President Donald Trump honored Juneteenth in each of his first four years as president, even before it became a federal holiday.

It's been celebrated by Black Americans for generations, but became more widely observed after Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday in 2021.

Journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson reflects on this year's Juneteenth celebrations — and the push and pull of the Black experience in America.