Juneteenth

  

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of when enslaved people in Galveston TX first learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865 — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation declared the end of slavery in America. In honor of the freedom and hope this day represents, Facebook shared 19 ways to commemorate the day:

1. Start by learning about this important day in America's history. 

2. Celebrate #Juneteenth by supporting Black entrepreneurs across the country or even better, find a Black-owned business in your own neighborhood.

3. Enjoy art created by Black Americans, such as the Miss Juneteenth film.

4. Red food and drinks are a tradition on Juneteenth as they are a symbol of perseverance.

5. Juneteenth is referred to as Freedom Day or the Black Fourth of July.

6, 7 & 8: Get inspiration for your Juneteenth meals from Tabitha Brown, Kwame Onwuachi and Ayesha Curry.

9 & 10: Learn more about the genius Black minds behind some of the most common objects in our lives like the three light traffic-light invented by Garrett Morgan or the carbon light bulb by Lewis Latimer. 

11 & 12: Take some time to listen to Stevie Wonder, the first Black artist to win a Grammy award for album of the year in 1973 or listen to this version of the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing performed by June’s Diary and members of Facebook Groups.

13, 14 & 15: Juneteenth celebrations can’t be stopped. Here are a few examples of how to take your community’s celebration virtual: Juneteenth Week 2020, the Juneteenth Jubilee Live! or the ARA Juneteenth Virtual Art Show.

16. Create a tradition. The 19th is often celebrated in Texas and across the South with parades, bands, BBQ and cups of red punch.

17. Ask businesses to commemorate Juneteenth in a meaningful way. Facebook will commemorate Juneteenth with a day of learning. We’re cancelling all meetings and engaging in conversation about the history, experiences and issues that Black Americans still face.

18. Inspire the next generation. Facebook Groups like Black Teachers Rock are working to empower our children and create a future with racial equality.

19. Learn & reflect. Take a moment this Friday, June 19th, to reflect on this historic day and how we can continue to celebrate and recognize the incredible Black Americans in our communities.

How to: Celebrate Juneteenth if you are not Black. 

Relevant news stories include:

• Calls to make Juneteenth a federal holiday gain momentum.
• Change.org petition to make Juneteenth a national holiday has more than 300,000 signatures.
• From Juneteenth to the Tulsa massacre, what isn't taught in classrooms has a profound impact.
• Juneteenth flag was designed to include meaningful historical symbols.
• Making Juneteenth a national holiday could help unite Americans.

Juneteenth Flag 

In the spirit of sharing softer news and/or silly vibes:

Randy Rainbow talked about DACA with KellyAnne Conway.

Daily pandemic update:  

WHO announced testing of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine in large multi-country trial of treatments for COVID-19 patients had been halted after new data and studies showed no benefit.  Aljazeera.com timeline

19 June 2020	Cases		Deaths		Recovered
16:56 GMT*	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today	Yesterday	Today
World	8,467,046	8,648,975	451,954	458,104	4,439,352	4,573,965
US	2,234,854	2,277,593	119,943	120,949	918,796	932,188
NY	406,367	408,426	31,046	31,092	86,367	86,865
CT	45,429	45,510	4,219	4,226	8,794	9,039
NC	46,933	49,840	1,181	1,235	29,219	29,219

A moment of silence for those we’ve lost to coronavirus, including the first 100 and the first 100,000 in the US.

As of today 11% of closed cases in the US resulted in death; 89% recovered.

Globally 9% of closed cases resulted in death worldwide; 91% recovered.

Currently 2% of all active cases are considered serious or critical.

*Documenting time of day because real time data updates continuously.
Tracking specific states:  NY is US epicenter. Son Reid lives in CT. I live in NC. 
Worldometers     Coronainusa     Starsexpress2020     https://ncov2019.live/

In the news: 

• 18 year old security guard was shot dead by Los Angeles county deputies.
• At least 4 members of congress benefited personally from PPP loans; 2 democrats and 2 republicans. Business loans to lawmakers are legal though some who benefited from the program also opposed legislation requiring lending transparency.
• AZ Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced he tested positive for COVID-19 and was asymptomatic when he visited the White House.
• #CancelTrumpsTulsaRally trended ahead of June 20 campaign rally in Tulsa OK. Gov Kevin Stitt changed his mind about Trump visiting the Greenwood District after community members expressed concerns. Trump warned potential protestors as Mayor Bynum issued curfew. OK Supreme Court is considering whether or not to delay the rally due to public health and safety concerns. Coronavirus cases continue to surge in OK, particularly in people age 35 and younger.
• CT Gov Ned Lamont supports plan to give $450 stipends as incentive for people to return to work. He is also considering allowing grocery stores to sell wine.
• DC National Guard deployment during protests cost approximately $2.6 million per day at peak. Total cost was estimated to be $21 million.
• Ivanka Trump conducted government business from private email account before she was employed as presidential advisor; an ethics red flag. John Bolton claims the president defended Saudi Arabia after murder of Jamal Khashoggi to distract from news that Ivanka had been conducting government business via private email. The president continues to criticize Hillary Clinton for using private email, often inciting chants of “lock her up” during his rallies.
• Louisville KY police initiated termination of Brett Hankison, 1 of 3 LMPD officers who fired weapons killing Breonna Taylor. The other 2 officers, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, remain on administrative reassignment. 
• Mark Hamill, Luke Skywalker of Star Wars fame, will headline a Biden fundraiser June 30.
• Mary Elizabeth Taylor resigned from her post as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs in light of Trump's response to rising racial tensions in the US.
• Matt Gaetz (R-FL) shared a photo of a young man named Nestor who he identified as his adopted son from Cuba.
• Melissa Rolfe, stepmother of disgraced Atlanta cop Garrett Rolfe who murdered Rayshard Brooks, was fired from Equity Prime Mortgage HR job for creating hostile work environment.
• NBA players were offered Oura smart rings to detect coronavirus symptoms.
• NM State Police are investigating NM Civil Guard militia and Albuquerque police tactics used during recent protest at conquistador statue. Stephen Ray Baca was arrested and jailed after shooting protestor Scott Williams in the torso. Baca was once a candidate for the Albuquerque City Council and is the son of a former Bernalillo County sheriff.
• Republicans are abandoning GOP in record numbers to publicly back democrat Joe Biden in unprecedented rebuke of a sitting president.
• Senate confirmed McConnell protégé Justin Walker as federal appeals judge despite allegations of bias and inexperience. Senate did NOT vote on any COVID-19 relief measures or government oversight of CARE and PPP funds.
• Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Trump administration's attempt to dismantle the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protecting young immigrants from deportation was unlawful. DACA recipients may continue to live and work in the US without fear of deportation. Trump complained about court decision and said he will submit enhanced papers to try again.
• Taiwan donated 30,000 masks to Dallas TX.
• Trump administration paid millions for test tubes from first time contractor; received unusable mini soda bottles.
• Trump claimed some people wear masks to signal their disapproval of him, despite CDC health guidance. 
• Trump scrolled through his cell phone while ignoring female small business owner as she spoke at White House event.
• Twitter added ‘manipulated media’ label to Trump video clip with misspelled banner “Terrified todler runs from racist baby.” Facebook removed Trump ad that featured a symbol used by the Nazis to identify political prisoners during World War II.
• UConn professor Peter Turchin wrote in 2010 that widespread civil unrest would sweep through the US in 2020. Turchin teaches cultural evolution and has studied historical cycles of instability which typically last 5 to 15 years.
• University of Florida will no longer allow its "Gator Bait" cheer at sporting events because of "historic racist imagery associated with the phrase."
• US stockpile now includes 63 million doses of hydroxychloroquine after FDA revoked its emergency use authorization to use the drug to treat COVID-19.
• WV residents campaign to replace confederate statues with Mothman. Meanwhile the small town of Moundsville WV police dept unveiled a newly acquired mine resistance ambush protection vehicle (MRAP) obtained from federal military surplus.

NC News

• Rep Larry Pittman of Cabarrus County called protesters “ignorant thugs,” “criminals,” “domestic terrorists” and “vermin” as he urged police to shoot those who resist arrest.
• NC health experts and local government leaders continue to urge people to wear masks in public while ReOpenNC initiated a “Burn Your Mask Challenge.” Raleigh recently passed city ordinance requiring masks be worn in public. Gov Cooper is considering statewide mask requirement. 
• Protestors boycott Bojangles over racially charged incident in Greensboro, NC. 
• NCA&T and Winston Salem State U both cancelled fall homecoming events due to coronavirus concerns.
• TROSA thrift store in Durham affirmed mask requirement policy to customer requesting exception.  

In my personal life…

I used to know a guy who complained about being forced to take a paid day off in January for the Martin Luther King Jr holiday. He said his employer took away Memorial Day as a paid holiday in order to add MLK day. He preferred having a day off in late May when the weather was better rather than a winter day in January. I wonder if Juneteenth became a national holiday if he would like that better. And I wonder if election day in November was a paid national holiday if more people would vote. I sure hope so. 

We texted Uncle John to wish him a happy birthday this morning. 

Greg skipped breakfast yesterday. I ate salami and havarti on crackers for brunch. Greg and friend Billy ate shrimp fried rice at Chang Thai restaurant for lunch. Tables were spaced apart for distancing and they both wore masks until their food arrived though no one else inside the restaurant wore masks or gloves, not even the servers. Greg brought home a summer roll with basil and shrimp for me, paid for by Billy, which I ate later in the afternoon. For dinner we ate the last of the salami with havarti on crackers followed by more cantaloupe and watermelon for dessert.  

My daily action for racial justice Thursday continued to be introspective with more reading, thinking and writing.