Monthly Archives: July 2020

Together You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation

Posted on July 30, 2020 by jyourist

This was printed in the Opinion Column of the New York Times today, July 30, 2020. Mr. Lewis, the civil rights leader who died on July 17, wrote this essay shortly before his death, to be published upon the day … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, African-Americans, civil rights, democracy, justice, voting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shiso for my mother

Posted on July 26, 2020 by jyourist

This year the shiso is growing everywhere, three kinds– green, red, and bi-color. Last year we let all the shiso go to seed and the plant– lush, resilient, and exuberant — has placed itself into every nook and cranny in … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, mother | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

In the Bardo

Posted on July 18, 2020 by jyourist

We are all grieving at the passing of John Lewis. What a remarkable man, filled with integrity, purpose, courage, and grit. He spent a lifetime in the fight for justice and civil rights under the most challenging of circumstances. He … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, African-Americans, anti-racism, civil rights, Civil War, justice, racism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Posted on July 6, 2020 by jyourist

Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it has been faced. History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. If we pretend … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-racism, civil rights, equity, history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“The Star-Spangled Banner” in a Minor Key

Posted on July 5, 2020 by jyourist

Chase Holfelder, the creator of the video above, captions the video above with: This past month has been heavy… but incomparable to the struggles that Black Americans have faced relentlessly for so many years. The movement has brought renewed light … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, African-Americans, anti-racism, civil rights, equity, freedom, racism | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Frederick Douglass’ “The Meaning of July Fourth

Posted on July 3, 2020 by jyourist

Almost a decade before the Civil War, Frederick Douglass was asked to speak at Rochester, New York’s Fourth of July celebration, (held on the fifth) in 1852. What the citizens, the white citizens, of Rochester heard was not what they … Continue reading →

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