Category Archives: African-Americans

My Aunt and the Black Lawn Jockey

Posted on August 5, 2020 by jyourist

My aunt, my mother’s twin, had a black lawn jockey on her front lawn. It appeared some time in the 60s in the midst of the Civil Rights movement. My cousin, my aunt’s daughter, told me that actually her mother … Continue reading →

Posted in African-Americans, civil rights, equity, family, twins, white privilege | 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

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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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