Song of the day:
Video of the day:
Juneteenth became a federal holiday yesterday. Many people have been fighting for this for years, and yes, it’s a good thing. A very good thing. But it doesn’t feel like enough. It doesn’t feel even remotely close to enough. Why was this so easy to get passed? Because everyone wants a day off even if they have no idea what Juneteenth actually means? Why can’t they pass the voting bill? Or minimum wage? Because those are things that would actually HELP Black people?
I don’t want to take anything away from Juneteenth because truly, it’s about time everyone recognized it. I hope this means they will teach it in schools and help people understand what it means and why it’s important. I hope it becomes a day of honoring and remembering, not just another day for mattress sales and drinking (side note: why do so many holidays involve mattress and linen sales? oh right, capitalism). In case, like me, you are a white person and aren’t quite sure what to do on this new holiday, take a minute to read Michael Harriot’s article, The Caucasian’s Guide to Celebrating Juneteenth. Here’s a short excerpt to get you started:
What Juneteenth Is Not
Juneteenth is not the Black 4th of July. It does not commemorate the end of slavery.The use of Black bodies as white people’s wealth-building human chattel didn’t officially end until the ratification of the 13th Amendment. Also, America’s actual independence day is July 2, 1776. Don’t worry, we know you people don’t know a lot about true history.
Juneteenth is not reparations: Making Juneteenth a holiday does not absolve the country of its past, nor does it make up for any of the injustices. Black people were gonna celebrate anyway. If anything, white people should be thanking us for a day off.
Juneteenth is not the racism vaccine: Celebrating Juneteenth does not make you an ally or an anti-racist any more than going Christmas shopping with two friends means you’re the three wise men.
Juneteenth is not yours: Do not infiltrate your capitalist customs into Juneteenth. There will be no mattress sales or special edition Crown Royal bottles. We don’t need a line of Hallmark Cards or 10 percent off collard greens. Don’t try to improve it, take it over or make it “more inclusive.” In other words, don’t treat Juneteenth like you treat Black music, Black art or Black neighborhoods.
Juneteenth is not “the cookout”: Cookout invitations are still invite-only. The last edition of the Regional Executive, Administrative, and Legislative Newsletter for the International Council for Cookout Arts and Sciences (REALNICCAS) announced a moratorium on cookout invitations until the first annual celebration of Reparations Day.
Pride Month Facts
On this day in…
1977 - An anti-discrimination Law is passed by Miami-Dade County. The ordinance that would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation passes by a vote of 5-3. Anita Bryant leads the successful effort to repeal it later that year. (Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.)
1992 - The soap opera “One Life to Live” airs the first openly gay teen character. Billy Douglas, a high school student, tells his best friend, Joey Buchanan, that he is gay. Newcomer actor Ryan Phillippe played the role from April 1992 until May 1993. The character is the first openly gay teenager featured in a television series, and Phillippe’s breakthrough role is considered groundbreaking in daytime television. (Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.)
On June 19 in…
1983 - In Lynchburg, Virginia, hate-monger Jerry Falwell told his followers that AIDS is a punishment from God, and that no medication could halt the judgment of God. Episcopal Bishop Paul Moore of New York criticized Falwell for using an epidemic as a political weapon. (Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.)
2014 - The US Presbyterian Church voted to allow pastors to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. (Arlington Public Library)
On June 20 in…
1998 - 50,000 people demonstrate in Paris to demand the legalization of same-sex marriage. (Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.)
2013 - Exodus International, a group that claims it could cure same-sex attraction through prayer and therapy, announces it will close its doors after more than three decades. The organization’s leader, John Paulk (born April 13, 1963), who admitted to his own “ongoing same-sex attractions,” apologizes to gays, saying, “I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn’t change.” (Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D.)
Update on Ed’s New Song
Apparently I have no idea what day it is because the new Ed Sheeran song doesn’t come out until NEXT Friday. I did my week of Ed a week early. Pitiful. Ah well…hope you enjoyed it anyway. Next Friday we’ll have new Ed music AND new Nathan Angelo music. It will be a good day. Anyway, enjoy your weekend and listen to all the Ed or all the Nathan or all of whomever you desire. And definitely do a little reading and research on Juneteenth.