5 Things Friday
What’s more American than Apple pie? Well, a lot of things, but today we’re talking about Juneteenth and why every american should celebrate it. Here are your antiracism action steps for June 11.
Eli Reed/Magnum Photos
It's Pride month, and Juneteenth is upon us—two major reasons to celebrate, support and advocate for our Black and LQBTQ+ brothers and sisters, and to learn about all the ways the fight for justice intersects between them. And considering SF is on the brink of herd immunity, we think it's safe to say: get out and join the party! Next weekend will likely see more Juneteenth celebrations than ever before. Wondering if it's OK to show up and celebrate if you're not Black? Ras Dia, co-founder of the new FREEFEST, A Juneteenth celebration in Brooklyn, puts it this way: "Juneteenth is a celebration of everyone’s liberation, and in that sense more 'American' than the 4th of July. Every American should be celebrating it in whatever way they can, understanding its history." We'll raise a glass to that.
Here are your 5 Things.
READ THIS. "From childhood I have never understood how June 19, 1865, a date when all people living in America were aware of the abolition of slavery is not the most American 'holiday' to honor. It says something about the living myth of independence in our country, but it’s also an opportunity to celebrate Black freedom regardless of the failings of the systems that challenge it," says Ras Dia, who along with Siobahn Sung co-founded the upcoming FREEFEST, a Juneteenth Festival launching in partnership with Domino Park in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that will feature screenings, marches, DJ sets, a voter fair, and more. Find out what makes this event so special, and meet the founders in this deep dive profile.
GO TO THIS.Whether you are West or East Coast based (or anywhere in between) next weekend will be full of jubilant Juneteenth celebrations. We suggest you check out what's happening in your area and make plans to attend! From FREEFEST in Brooklyn to this Bay Area celebration at the Embarcadero Ferry Terminal in SF hosted by MegaBlackSF and Cuesa to Juneteenth at Bruce's Beach in Manhattan Beach. The hottest ticket in town is the sold-out concert Grooves From The Greenhouse in Oakland at Blk Girls Greenhouse, but keep an eye on their Insta feed for a potential live-stream viewing event.
LISTEN TO THIS. REP CO's co-founder Jessa Williams had never imagined she'd get into surfing. But once she did, she fell in love with it. "It just sort of lifts you up," she tells the Resistance in the episode "Get Back in The Water." But when a fellow surfer tore her down by calling her a racist slur in the waves, Jessa got out of the water. It's nothing new. Not far from where Jessa was surfing, there was once a thriving Black-owned beachside oasis called Bruce's Resort. That is, until it too was torn down. This week, alongside Jessa's story, Resistance tells the story of those two fights to reclaim space in places where Black folks have historically been told subtly and explicitly that they were not welcome. Listen now!
WATCH THIS. Mama Gloria is a feature documentary about Gloria Allen, a 75-year-old Black trailblazing transgender activist who started a charm school for homeless trans youth and is now aging with joy and grace. It is the story of a mother’s love – the love that Gloria’s mother had for her and the love that Gloria has for her chosen children. It's streaming on PBS now.
SIGN UP FOR THIS. Join Dr. Akilah Cadet this Thursday, June 17 at 5pm PST as she brings back one of her most popular workshops: The Anti-Racism Journey Workshop. The practice of anti-racism is a lifelong journey of learning, unlearning, and doing the work to change the values, behaviors and structures that perpetuate systemic racism. This workshop will examine the continuous cycle of the anti-racism journey. We will explore how to be comfortable with discomfort, dig deeper into key terms, identify actions for accountability and make commitments that can lead to meaningful change. For those looking for what’s next in your allyship journey, this workshop is for you." Sign up right here.