In Video: Juneteenth celebrations see sponsorship cuts amid DEI rollback

Juneteenth Celebrations Face Uncertainty as Corporate Sponsors Pull Funding

In a stark contrast to the celebrations just a few years ago, Juneteenth events across the country are facing a different reality in 2023. As the first Juneteenth of the era of rolling cutbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, many communities are forced to pivot or cancel events altogether due to the lack of corporate sponsorships.

Atlanta’s Juneteenth Festival Among Those Affected

In Atlanta, the Juneteenth festival was forced to cancel its events after corporate sponsors pulled funding. Similarly, in Colorado Springs and Denver, the planned two-day event was reduced to a one-day event due to the inadequate sponsorship.

Florida Celebrations Go Strong, but Others are Hit Hard

Meanwhile, in Florida, Juneteenth celebrations continued to shine, but the trend was not consistent across the country. In Scottsdale, Arizona, the Juneteenth festival was canceled entirely after the city dissolved its DEI office.

Prominent Faith Leader Launches Boycott of Target

The pullback on DEI initiatives is not limited to events, as massive companies like Meta, Target, and Walmart are scaling down, reorganizing, or eliminating their own diversity initiatives. A prominent faith leader, Doctor Jamal Bryant, has launched a boycott of Target, calling the company’s rollback an "absolute act of betrayal."

Juneteenth: A Holiday of Community and Unity

As the holiday celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas on June 19th, 1865, it serves as a reminder of the long and arduous road to freedom. Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021, but not all states have followed suit, with only 29 states and the District of Columbia recognizing the holiday with guaranteed paid time off for state workers.

The Trend of Rollbacks

The trend of rollbacks on DEI initiatives is mirrored at the local and state level, as well as nationally. The push for inclusion and equity that began in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd is facing resistance, with the number of corporate partners dropping by at least 40%. As celebrations continue, the spirit of activism and resilience will also endure, as Doctor Bryant emphasized.

No Justice, No Peace

"I believe that Juneteenth is a holiday that we as a community, as a people, should celebrate regardless of whether we have corporate sponsorship or not," said a community leader. "This is a holiday that was meant to bring us together, and we will continue to celebrate it with or without corporate backing." The message of no justice, no peace echoes through the halls of activism, inspiring a new generation to continue the fight for equality and freedom.