Juneteenth, Phase 2, The Weekend

Juneteenth a/k/a June 19th marks 155 years since the last proclamation of the end of slavery. It, of course, happens amid a national uprising against police violence and systemic racism unlike any I’ve seen in my admittedly not so long…

Juneteenth a/k/a June 19th marks 155 years since the last proclamation of the end of slavery. It, of course, happens amid a national uprising against police violence and systemic racism unlike any I’ve seen in my admittedly not so long lifetime. Millions are likely to be observing, what by next year will be, a city and state holiday, for the first time.

It’s a day and an issue that requires many of us, especially folks such as myself, to think about inherent advantages and biases in ourselves and structures we have supported and from which we have benefited. That can mean something as simple as ignoring the amount of funding certain parts of government receive while others get cut or eliminated. It also means not only listening to what people are saying but making changes based on alternate experiences

Our problems are social and human creations and, therefore, can be fixed by humans. It won’t be easy to reassess, but it will be worth it. It can start with something as simple as heeding our call to restore funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program.

I’ve cited Samuel Beckett's "Worstward Ho" before, but it still feels like apt advice so here it is again:

"All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."

Since giving up is not an option, it is all we can do.

This is the web archive of a newsletter originally sent by email to Brooklyn Community Board 6 subscribers on Friday, June 19, 2020. The email edition may contain additional event listings and links.