Juneteenth 2025 - It Was Different This Year

Equality & Equity - The Difference Matters

Guest post by Kristine Schwartzman

Juneteenth celebrations still rang out across the country in 2025. But, this year was different. There weren't as many. Some were subdued. Others were canceled. The change was palpable. And, it was far-reaching. 

It's easy to say, as many officials did, that safety was the issue. If the threat of violence is real and security is the problem, what happened? How did we get here? Why is this year different?

The political climate has clearly changed. Diversity, equity and inclusive (DEI) initiatives across the country have been gutted and defunded. DEI programs, on the federal and state levels and in the public sector, were meant to level the playing field and provide needed support so that every person regardless of color, gender, sexual preference or disability has the opportunity to thrive.

DEI programs have long been targeted by a segment of the population that portrayed them as anti-white, a sort of reverse discrimination claim. And, unfortunately, it is that idea that currently controls the government in the US. Federal DEI programs have been obliterated and the pressure on corporate entities, states, and educational institutions to eliminate initiatives has been relentless. Many have capitulated.

What does DEI have to do with Juneteenth? Federal DEI grants funded many celebrations. When the federal government under the current regime unceremoniously yanked those grants, events already planned fell by the wayside.

Black organizers also voluntarily, albeit reluctantly, canceled or moved events to smaller venues. One of the reasons often stated was the fear of a violent backlash. That leads us back to where we started - they canceled because of security issues. What should be a celebration of freedom, remembrance and joy is now tainted by fear. 

“What we’re seeing – businesses pulling back and universities canceling programs in response to attacks on DEI – shows that many institutions and corporations were never truly committed to diversity and inclusion,” said LaTasha Levy, a professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, DC. “We’re not even being honest about what DEI really stands for.”

It seems that every step forward is two steps back. Equality and equity for all Americans, is not a given. It's never a win. It's always work. And, it's worth fighting for. 

Resources: 
​How cities are scaling back Juneteenth celebrations after Trump-era DEI rollbacks

No longer looking for votes, Trump changes his tune about the Juneteenth holiday

Freedom Day for All Americans

Celebrate Juneteenth - Why & How