This Juneteenth, Joy Is the Protest

As DEI funding vanishes and sponsors pull out, Juneteenth keeps going. But in 2025, is joy itself the most radical act of resistance?

Author

Dale Harris
June 17, 2025

In partnership with

"Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real." — Tupac Shakur

Spread the word: Forward this email to a friend who’ll love it!

Good morning, BFA Fam! The BFA Shop is officially live! We just dropped over 25 designs made for the culture, bold, unapologetic, and built to stand out. If you’ve been rocking with us, now’s your chance to wear it loud. Tap in and cop something real.

It’s here—The BFA Shop is finally live! We’ve been cooking up pieces that speak to the culture, and now you can rep it your way. From bold designs to everyday staples, everything in the shop was made to turn heads and spark convo. Go check it out and grab your favorites before they’re gone.

Shop Now!

It’s here—The BFA Shop is finally live! We’ve been cooking up pieces that speak to the culture, and now you can rep it your way. From bold designs to everyday staples, everything in the shop was made to turn heads and spark convo. Go check it out and grab your favorites before they’re gone.

Limited Edition!

MAIN STORY

🔥 Black Joy Is Revolutionary: Why Celebration Is Resistance in 2025

A joyful Black father lifts his laughing young daughter into the air at a vibrant Juneteenth cookout. The girl wears a bright yellow dress, and both are smiling with eyes closed in pure happiness. In the blurred background, people clap and cheer under colorful Afrocentric flags, all bathed in warm sunlight.

⚡ THE SPARK

A Juneteenth organizer in Nashville got a call this month. It was a corporate sponsor, one who had supported them for years. The message was chilling: "We’ll still give you money. Just take our logo off of everything." This isn't an isolated incident; it's the new reality in June 2025. Across the country, the institutional backing for Black and queer celebrations is evaporating into whispers of quiet support and outright public abandonment.

As Israeli jets strike targets in Tehran and the world feels on edge, a different kind of battle is being waged at home. Under a second Trump administration, the corporate and political backlash against DEI has come for our joy. Parades are being scaled back, festivals are losing funding, and communities are being told their history is no longer a budget priority

🧠 THE LAYER BELOW

  • Corporate retreat betrays promises: Post-George Floyd, companies pledged DEI; now, they’re ghosting Juneteenth festivals, with Denver’s event losing over a dozen sponsors.

  • Political climate stifles celebration: Trump’s anti-DEI policies and state budget cuts, like West Virginia’s Juneteenth events, signal a broader attack on Black liberation narratives.

  • Resilience is the Black playbook: Organizers like Nashville’s Willie “Big Fella” Sims lean on community crowdfunding, proving Black joy doesn’t need corporate logos.

  • Joy as warfare: In a world of Iran-Israel strikes killing hundreds, Black celebration defies despair, echoing Juneteenth’s 1865 emancipation spirit.

  • Freedom isn’t free or cheap: San Diego’s Cooper family digs into personal savings to keep Juneteenth alive, showing the hidden costs of resistance.

  • History repeats, but so does hope: Juneteenth grew from Texas to a federal holiday; its 2025 struggles mirror past fights for Black recognition.

  • Silence is complicity: Sponsors pulling funds quietly, like those asking Nashville Pride to hide their logos, reveal cowardice in the face of political pressure.

🎯 THE REAL QUESTION

When celebrating your freedom becomes a courageous political act, what does "freedom" truly mean?

🔮 WHAT’S NEXT

In 2025, Black joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s a weapon. As DEI crumbles and global conflicts rage, every cookout, every drumbeat, every laugh shared at Juneteenth is a middle finger to systems betting on our silence. Nashville’s Brady Ruffin said it best: “Pride belongs to the people.” So does joy. We don’t need corporate cash to claim our freedom. Keep dancing, keep grilling, keep living loud. Black joy is our revolution—undeniable, unbreakable, unstoppable.

CAST YOUR VOTE

How are you celebrating Juneteenth this year?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

  1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

  2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

  3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.

📉 Student Loan Shock: Credit Scores Plunge as Millions Struggle with Repayments Restart

🫶🏾 The Truth About Black Fatherhood: Debunking the Myth Once and for All

😴 Scientists Uncover 24-Hour Cure for Insomnia—and It’s Shockingly Simple

✊🏾 Juneteenth Explained: What It Means and How to Celebrate the Freedom Holiday

💊 Breakthrough Obesity Pill Burns Fat Without Killing Your Appetite

🪪 Zuckerberg’s Big Bet: Ads Are Coming to WhatsApp as Meta Plots Its Next Power Move

📊 Trump’s Approval Stalls as MAGA Enthusiasm Wanes—Immigration Stands as His Only Bright Spot

😦 Minnesota Lawmaker Shooting Suspect Captured and Charged with Double Murder

THE FLIP SIDE

A city engulfed in chaos at night with multiple large explosions lighting up the skyline. Massive fireballs erupt between high-rise and mid-rise buildings, sending thick black smoke into the air. Flames rage through the streets and apartment complexes, leaving widespread destruction in an urban landscape. The scene conveys the intense devastation of an ongoing conflict.

🙏🏾 Iran Bombards Tel Aviv and Haifa as Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates, G7 on High Alert. Iran launched over 100 missiles at Tel Aviv and Haifa, killing at least four and injuring dozens, marking the fourth day of escalating conflict with Israel. Fires and destruction were reported across central Israel, while Israel struck back targeting Iranian missile sites and energy infrastructure. As the death toll climbs on both sides, G7 leaders convene in Canada with the crisis topping their agenda. Iran refuses ceasefire talks amid global fears of a broader Middle East war. (The Guardian)

😬 Trump Orders ICE to Ramp Up Mass Deportations in Democratic Cities Amid Rising Protests. President Trump has directed ICE to intensify deportation operations in Democratic-led cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, aiming to carry out what he calls the “largest Mass Deportation Program in History.” The administration is targeting 3,000 arrests per day, drawing federal agents from multiple agencies. The crackdown has sparked nationwide protests and concern from industries reliant on immigrant labor. Critics say the policy is politically motivated and causing widespread fear, even among non-criminal immigrants. (CNN)

📞 Trump Launches Gold T1 Smartphone and $47 Mobile Plan with Bold 'America First' Pitch. The Trump family has unveiled Trump Mobile, a new wireless network offering “The 47 Plan” for $47.45/month, alongside the flashy T1 Phone—a gold, American-made Android device priced at $499. Though the phone’s specs are shaky and its promotional materials riddled with errors, the venture promises unlimited data, roadside assistance, and telehealth access. Running on the T-Mobile network via Liberty Mobile, the launch marks Trump’s latest brand expansion, with political undertones and potential regulatory scrutiny looming. (The Verge)

📀 Reginae Carter Shuts Down Trolls Trashing Lil Wayne’s New Album: “It’s Not for TikTok, It’s Timeless”. Reginae Carter fiercely defended her father, Lil Wayne, during a recent livestream after critics called his new album Tha Carter VI “trash.” The 26-year-old clapped back, saying the project isn’t meant for TikTok dances but has real replay value, calling it “universal” and fit for malls or video games. She praised Wayne’s lyricism and told haters to “move in silence.” This marks Reginae’s latest public defense of Wayne, following backlash to his recent SNL anniversary performance. (The Shade Room)

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

In SHADOW FORCE, Kyrah (Washington) and Isaac (Sy) were once the leaders of a multinational special forces group called Shadow Force. They broke the rules by falling in love, and in order to protect their son, they go underground. With a large bounty on their heads, and the vengeful Shadow Force hot on their trail, one family’s fight becomes all-out war.

Shadow Force Official Trailer

Get ready for nonstop action in Shadow Force—a high-stakes thriller where love, loyalty, and survival collide. Kerry Washington and Omar Sy star as Kyrah and Issac, former elite operatives turned fugitives, forced to protect their son while outrunning a deadly team they once led. With explosive combat, emotional depth, and a powerhouse cast including Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Method Man, Shadow Force is the ultimate fight-for-family action ride you don’t want to miss.

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Reply

or to participate.