Juneteenth is not America patting itself on the back because freedom finally got a calendar invite. It is a reminder that legality has blessed some truly monstrous things, then strutted around calling itself order. Freedom delayed, denied, exploited, and loophole-ridden is not ancient history. It is a living wound. Symbolism is nice. Justice requires receipts, repair, and listening to Black voices without demanding they make the truth comfortable first.
With the leadership of strong, articulate advocates like you we have a blueprint to follow. Your followers are helping as well. We need another MLK movement to work for opportunity and freedom for all. This was a valuable post. Thank you!
June 19th in Galveston, TX, ... when you think about it, the saving grace, kept from the slaves, for 2 yrs, as they slaved and did not know of their salvation by Abraham Lincoln, is cruelty beyond comprehension.
We whites who are for justice, have a lot of work to do, standing along side our friends with other-colored skin. I learned years ago, while fighting for gay rights, that it takes the majority to be heard, because the minority does not have the power by themselves.
And we are not a strong country, unless we are fighting for equality for all, our values, in this unique multi-racial immigrant nation. My neighbor "making it," does not take away from me. When America ceases to be the inspiration in the world, ... we all lose.
And Juneteenth is decidedly not about token retail tags like Walmart’s new ice cream Juneteenth or any other cheap shots, displaying only an inexpensive nod to history.
Today, on Juneteenth, I am particularly enraged by the disenfranchising of people of color by gerrymandering, which I have never understood. But I consistently question the legality of many actions of both sides of the aisle. Lately it seems that whatever happens in this administration is racism cubed.
Qasim the real question that needs to be addressed by the United States of Incompetence today is to ask WHY! Why are people racist? Is it just that they are so far down the ladder of opportunity, education? Probably not, because even successful people are racist. If America after all these years can't figure that question out then where is the road towards understanding this state of affairs? 250 years and nobody has tried to deal with the hatred at it's core. Black and brown people aren't smarter, better looking, richer, better parents. They are on a par with whites! Neither better not worse. So what is it that makes whites, especially in America hate people of colour so damn much? Is it that they feel superior? Why? America has never had this kind of discussion and judging by the past 250 years has no intention of ever talking openly about racism in a meaningful way. It's similar to religion. What you are taught all your life must be true and adhered to. Yet when offered another point of view they refuse to consider it.
In one word: money. Either the ancestors of those white people today made a killing (in more ways than one) from exploiting people who weren’t white or they profit in some way by continuing this blasphemous masquerade today if in no other way than by evading the stark black and white truth of it all.
Avoiding the truth of it's racist past and present is why they are here. At war with themselves. They exploit everybody now though even their white folk. Yet black and brown people still continue to feel the brunt of their hatred. You are all immigrants yet they choose which immigrants to hate dependent on their skin colour. Nothing else!
The government making Juneteenth into a federal holiday (likely in response to the 2020 protests) feels like the very kind of facile, half-assed gestures that the protesters were fighting against. Give us a new holiday, rather than doing any meaningful to address the dystopian police state we live in, much in the way we gave the police body cams, rather than taking some of their funding and pouring it into stuff that would benefit the community as a whole like schools, mental health services, or affordable housing.
Fun Fact: most cities, even blue ones in blue states, responded to the 2020 protests by INCREASING police funding rather than decreasing it. 😡
I was watching morning television today. A man and woman were talking about a Juneteenth event. The event goes over, I believe, four weeks. Each week had a focus and this next week if food. Sharing good food is a part ,but for me, I enjoyed the talk about how food brings people together, how people adopt other cultures food, how food triggers memories. Allow yourself to think about it and you cannot help but see the blending that never really stops. Another bit of talking was the bringing in the Juneteenth growing last week discussed handicapped.
I loved how the Juneteenth creators have the goal of Juneteenth growing and including one and all. Not forcing but joining together.
Go out this weekend, listen toRagae, eat some Mexican Street Corn, move to jazz of all type, share stories. The list goes on without end. Every year is better!
Juneteenth is not America patting itself on the back because freedom finally got a calendar invite. It is a reminder that legality has blessed some truly monstrous things, then strutted around calling itself order. Freedom delayed, denied, exploited, and loophole-ridden is not ancient history. It is a living wound. Symbolism is nice. Justice requires receipts, repair, and listening to Black voices without demanding they make the truth comfortable first.
With the leadership of strong, articulate advocates like you we have a blueprint to follow. Your followers are helping as well. We need another MLK movement to work for opportunity and freedom for all. This was a valuable post. Thank you!
Dr. Stacey Patton, Charles Blow, Charles Douglas ED Common Power
Learn, share, remember: OMAR, Rhiannon Giddens
https://youtu.be/nfNnRZoNDVY?is=xWjS7GM-IKf9zr4N
June 19th in Galveston, TX, ... when you think about it, the saving grace, kept from the slaves, for 2 yrs, as they slaved and did not know of their salvation by Abraham Lincoln, is cruelty beyond comprehension.
We whites who are for justice, have a lot of work to do, standing along side our friends with other-colored skin. I learned years ago, while fighting for gay rights, that it takes the majority to be heard, because the minority does not have the power by themselves.
And we are not a strong country, unless we are fighting for equality for all, our values, in this unique multi-racial immigrant nation. My neighbor "making it," does not take away from me. When America ceases to be the inspiration in the world, ... we all lose.
I appreciate your work and care for people.
My late mother was a Texan and taught us about Juneteenth when my sister and I were kids.
I recall being shocked that enslaved Black people weren't free until two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
And Juneteenth is decidedly not about token retail tags like Walmart’s new ice cream Juneteenth or any other cheap shots, displaying only an inexpensive nod to history.
Today, on Juneteenth, I am particularly enraged by the disenfranchising of people of color by gerrymandering, which I have never understood. But I consistently question the legality of many actions of both sides of the aisle. Lately it seems that whatever happens in this administration is racism cubed.
Thank you, Qasim and other readers for the suggestions!
Mine is Jermaine Fowler, a good historian who's also here @thehumanityarchive
Qasim the real question that needs to be addressed by the United States of Incompetence today is to ask WHY! Why are people racist? Is it just that they are so far down the ladder of opportunity, education? Probably not, because even successful people are racist. If America after all these years can't figure that question out then where is the road towards understanding this state of affairs? 250 years and nobody has tried to deal with the hatred at it's core. Black and brown people aren't smarter, better looking, richer, better parents. They are on a par with whites! Neither better not worse. So what is it that makes whites, especially in America hate people of colour so damn much? Is it that they feel superior? Why? America has never had this kind of discussion and judging by the past 250 years has no intention of ever talking openly about racism in a meaningful way. It's similar to religion. What you are taught all your life must be true and adhered to. Yet when offered another point of view they refuse to consider it.
In one word: money. Either the ancestors of those white people today made a killing (in more ways than one) from exploiting people who weren’t white or they profit in some way by continuing this blasphemous masquerade today if in no other way than by evading the stark black and white truth of it all.
Avoiding the truth of it's racist past and present is why they are here. At war with themselves. They exploit everybody now though even their white folk. Yet black and brown people still continue to feel the brunt of their hatred. You are all immigrants yet they choose which immigrants to hate dependent on their skin colour. Nothing else!
Thank you, Qasim, and readers for these great suggestions.
Here are 2 of my favorites:
*Michael Motley's One Mic Black History &
*Kahlil Greene's History Can't Hide from Kahlil Greene.
They both have great posts for Juneteenth. I have so much to learn!
The government making Juneteenth into a federal holiday (likely in response to the 2020 protests) feels like the very kind of facile, half-assed gestures that the protesters were fighting against. Give us a new holiday, rather than doing any meaningful to address the dystopian police state we live in, much in the way we gave the police body cams, rather than taking some of their funding and pouring it into stuff that would benefit the community as a whole like schools, mental health services, or affordable housing.
Fun Fact: most cities, even blue ones in blue states, responded to the 2020 protests by INCREASING police funding rather than decreasing it. 😡
I was watching morning television today. A man and woman were talking about a Juneteenth event. The event goes over, I believe, four weeks. Each week had a focus and this next week if food. Sharing good food is a part ,but for me, I enjoyed the talk about how food brings people together, how people adopt other cultures food, how food triggers memories. Allow yourself to think about it and you cannot help but see the blending that never really stops. Another bit of talking was the bringing in the Juneteenth growing last week discussed handicapped.
I loved how the Juneteenth creators have the goal of Juneteenth growing and including one and all. Not forcing but joining together.
Go out this weekend, listen toRagae, eat some Mexican Street Corn, move to jazz of all type, share stories. The list goes on without end. Every year is better!
Qasim, This was so great!
I appreciate you si much!
Please take a look at Pink Parlance by Lauren Jones, PhD.
Celebrate Black Women Everyday. Celebrate Black Excellence Everyday.