Category Archives: activism

Smoke Signals

Posted on October 10, 2020 by jyourist

According to Wikipedia, “The smoke signal is one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication. It is a form of visual communication used over a long distance. In general smoke signals are used to transmit news, signal danger, or gather people to … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, election 2020, postcards, voting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kate’s Flag

Posted on September 26, 2020 by jyourist

This is my grandmother’s American flag. It has 48 stars, before Alaska and Hawaii became states. I remember my father telling me that this flag was the very first thing she purchased when she came to the United States over … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, equity, father | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Exercise We all Need to be Doing

Posted on September 16, 2020 by jyourist

Many years ago my sister and her wife bought me a punching bag for my birthday, an Everlast. It was gifted as a way for me to get some aerobic exercise especially in the cold winter months. We put it … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, change, exercise, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

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

“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

Juneteenth—Freedom, Jubilee, Liberation Day

Posted on June 19, 2020 by jyourist

Juneteenth is a day to commemorate freedom from chattel slavery in this country, but also a reminder for white people to continue to grapple with their white privilege and work toward eliminating the racial oppression alive and well in the … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, African-Americans, civil rights, Civil War, freedom, justice, race, social justice | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“A Riot is the Language of the Unheard”

Posted on May 30, 2020 by jyourist

…Certain conditions continue to exist in our society, which must be condemned as vigorously as we condemn riots. But in the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, equity, justice, politics, social justice | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Postcards from the Edge

Posted on May 23, 2020 by jyourist

Does it really make a difference to write these political postcards asking people to vote. I’m really not sure. I assume it has to have even the meagerest of influence, but am not so sure it’s anything significant. However, I … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, democracy, politics, postcards, voting | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Exposure

Posted on April 6, 2020 by jyourist

Since I retired, I have volunteered for Reading Between the Lines, an organization that leads discussion groups with the recently released from prison as well as people serving the last year or so of their sentences. These discussions are grounded … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, change, justice, prison | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment