Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday in 2021 to recommit to "equity, equality, and justice," but this year the holiday comes amid a new political environment marked by a slew of Trump administration federal regulations against diversity,

Juneteenth celebrations feel the pressure as some corporate sponsors have pulled their support, forcing some to scale back or change course as DEI initiatives face challenges across private and public sectors.

As cities across Tennessee prepare for Juneteenth celebrations with banners unfurling, vendors setting up, and leaders finalizing programs honoring Black liberation, a deeper question lingers: What does it mean to celebrate freedom in a state restricting how that freedom’s history is taught?