Juneteenth

for all the meaning in life, humanity is the only one we should tend to daily. ~

change can be slow. it requires and even demands the upmost patience and tolerance.
in my observations it tends to move on its own time and is generational.

as a #GenX i was born in the #70’s and grew up in the #80’s. my coming of age happened in the #90’s. so when i say i have observed change, let me just say, my life have not existed without some form of racism.

i can attest to how long change has taken its time. as a participant and witness to the most societal acts against #Black humanity believe me when i tell you, it has never been peaceful

in fact, today social media holds no bars to the unfiltered and triggering stereotypes that continue to persist online. the racialized stereotypes, name calling, prejudice, rudeness, and appalling behaviors tragically exist. imo its due to poor parenting and generational racist attitudes and behaviors.

i believe its exactly why we all ought to be celebrating our Black sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents, elders, and ancestors who have survived and moved beyond the racism against Black humanity.

we celebrate their historic freedom from chattel slavery and their continued success to fight against the odds. in the same stroke of the mighty pen we mourn the loss of the many souls who died fighting for their humanity.

Google homepage 06/19/23

its tragic considering the real history has not been taught and erased w a clean sweep under the rug. public school curriculum in western education systems have worked hard to erase non white ppl w fabricated truths and kumbaya glories. as if violence against Black humanity does not continue into the 21st century.

i am thinking about my childhood and remembering the Black families we knew who lived on the Rez and worked at federal #Indian boarding school campus’. we really did not know who they were nor did we learn of their history. the families were employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as teachers.

the most memorable were my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Buchannon and my best friend Keesha. as i think back the Baileys, Shaws, and Clarks were friendly and nice too. by virtue of my friendship w Keesha i got to play w the other Black kids Theresa, Amelia, Marcus, and Amy. i learned how to play hopskotch and they introduced me to double dutch and remember learning about “hair grease” which seemed so foreign.

if you can understand how simple my home and family life was you would know all those things they introduced to me esp chocolate Jello pudding was so foreign to a little Rez girl like me.

i often wonder where they went, esp Mrs. Buchannon. i think i was her class favorite. at least i believed i was. how do i know? she once called me “child” the way i hear Black mothers name their children when something emotional occurs. mind you context is everything, but in that moment she was kind and gracious w her time esp as our teacher. i never knew another teacher like her, nor did i have a Black teacher until i got into my Phd program w my professor.

as i remember, i cried over the bully who took my #Avon #CocaCola chapstick and broke it. she put him in the back of the class and asked me to come up to her desk and gave me hug. thereafter put me at the front near her desk. favorite? or was she protecting me? i wont ever know but something tells me she was a lioness w her cub and i digress.

today, with a child of my own who has Black heritage, i have zero tolerance for racist attitudes and behaviors. i think of the white washed curriculum at my sons school and work to help change the narrative and am faced w resistance.

how is it this school exists? i will tell you. it exists on stolen Indigenous land. the history behind this country has its roots in chattel slavery. we were never taught about how vast and deep the “founding fathers” were a part of the World Atlantic Slave Trade.

personally, it wasnt until i entered graduate school for my Master’s degree before i learned of the economic wealth this country was established on by plantation owners. i also learned of the Haitian Revolution and Brazil’s history in the slave trade.

so much unlearning and learning occurred for me. imagine what can happen when we read about the actual histories of non white ppl. it makes me rethink everything i was ever (or never) taught. it also puts into perspective the lies public schools teach.

bringing this all back together is a reminder we are a collective group of ppl who seek change. i want to honor and celebrate the Black souls and wonderful next gen leaders from Indigenous Creatives who brought forth Juneteenth celebration to the Nez Perce reservation over the weekend. they are a group of Afro-Indigenous Black Natives who are creating education and awareness on the critical issue of Black humanity w their lived experiences.

Juneteenth Celebration 2023

Black humanity comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. it requires us all to look within and see how critical it is to be conscious and self aware so that we can honor Black lives as much as we do any other.

a critically conscious collective is much more effective in creating change vs. a closed off and unconscious group of individuals who are set on outdated forms of thinking and being.

heres to a more conscious and healed state of being and to the rebirth of a nation filled w love, respect, and honoring of Black humanity and the many contributions they have made to world civilization.

may we all recognize Black history.

above all, may we all honor Black humanity.

Yox kalo.