Category Archives: race

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

At the root, heart, character of this nation

Posted on July 9, 2016 by jyourist

Today is the anniversary of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, perhaps the most important amendment in our Constitution. This is the amendment that is used most frequently in civil rights litigation, including the most recent same sex marriage decision … Continue reading →

Posted in citizenship, Civil War, democracy, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“What White America Fails to See” by Michael Eric Dyson

Posted on July 8, 2016 by jyourist

Reprinted from the New York Times: SundayReview | CONTRIBUTING OP-ED WRITER What White America Fails to See Michael Eric Dyson JULY 7, 2016 IT is clear that you, white America, will never understand us. We are a nation of nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in race, white privilege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Memorial Day created by former slaves

Posted on May 30, 2016 by jyourist

Though Memorial Day was first formally declared in 1868 by General Logan, in charge of the GAR—an organization of Civil War vets, in order to decorate the graves of those who died in the Civil War, there are many cities … Continue reading →

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Malcom X…

Posted on May 19, 2016 by jyourist

…would be 91 today.

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Japanese Internment

Posted on February 20, 2016 by jyourist

This is not an anniversary to be celebrated, but certainly one we need to never forget.  74 years ago yesterday, nearly 120,000 people of Japanese descent (62% of whom were American citizens and 30,000 of whom were children, the rest … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Harper Lee 1926-2016 RIP

Posted on February 19, 2016 by jyourist

Some previous posts connected to Harper Lee: Ta-Nehisi Coates and Harper Lee Harper Lee is not immune Zack Graham’s To Kill a Mockingbird Problem…and Ours Scuppernongs  

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“The Three Evils” address delivered by Martin Luther King 8/31/1967

Posted on January 19, 2016 by jyourist

“The Three Evils,” Delivered at the National Conference on New Politics August 31, 1967,  Chicago, Il Some excerpts: What they [Democrats and Republicans] truly advocate is Socialism for the rich and Capitalism for the poor. [W]e are now experiencing the coming … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, justice, race | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Lift every voice

Posted on January 15, 2016 by jyourist

Today started with an assembly celebrating Martin Luther King. The assembly was totally kid-centered, an authentic middle school experience. There were excerpts from a play the students had put on earlier this year, Brown Girl Dreaming. There were vocalists and … Continue reading →

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