Celebrate Juneteenth and Fort Mosé

 

It is unfortunate that most people do not celebrate Juneteenth because they either have never heard of it or do not know what it is.  So, here are the facts sbout a critically important date in American, not just Black American, history:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth

This Essence article blew me away because I had not heard of Fort Mose, have you?

Wow!  African American/Black history is so rich and filled with stories of courage, sacrifice, determination and a few victories along the way.  Fort Mose’ near St. Augustine,  Florida is just as important as Black Wallstreet in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Please share with you circle of influence:

https://www.essence.com/news/un-recognizes-fort-mose/?utm_source=newsletters-essence.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=06-19-19PM%20Final&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.essence.com%2fnews%2fun-recognizes-fort-mose%2f&utm_content=2019062013PM&email_jobid=103030&email_contact=EE_DLY_3D4EB2EE-CC39-4015-A615-8F341CC33E33&memid=100011852

Visit Fort Mosé in St. Augustine.  You can add this to your travel plans the next time you travel to Florida.  Or, plan a special trip to what is now a National Historic Site.  See the link below:

https://www.visitstaugustine.com/thing-to-do/fort-mose

The more we know, the more we understand.

The more we understand, the more we grow.

The more we grow, the more we share.

The more we share, the more people we educate.

The more people we educate, the more power we acquire:

Truth is knowledge. Applied knowledge is power…

To apply knowledge, we form viable strategic plans.

Viable strategic plans are responsible for (just to name a few major accomplishments):

the Underground Railroad, Black Wallstreet, HBCUs, Mayor Harold Washington, the 40-hour work week, child labor laws, OSHA, public transit, the right to vote, Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, Mayor Harold Washington, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, President Barack Obama, and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio.

As we keep working our strategic plans, we will also have victories that include:

Healthcare for all,  reparations, equal pay for equal work, dismantling of the prison industrial complex vis-a-vi…elimination of racial profiling, and equal justice under the law.

Get informed.

You are either part of the problem or part of the solution!

What is the Plan in Your Community?

 

Want to change social and economic injustices?  Then you need a plan of action.

Shaun King’s commentary  for Black America Web this morning emphasizes how a “blind loyalty” gets people nowhere.  However, a plan of action gets you results. In case you missed this less than 10 minute audio, here is the link for you to listen, share, and move to action:

Shaun King Talks Policy Ideas

Harriett Tubman, Booker T. Washington, and President Barack Obama were successful because they all had a plan of action!!  Likewise,  Adolph Hitler, the Koch Brothers and the Tea Party also had a plan of action!  With technological advances AND boots on the ground, you can plan, educate, empower and implement a customized plan of action with best practices, for the Top 5-10 (depending on manpower/volunteers) issues that cause Blacks, Browns, Native Americans, the working poor, functionally disabled, mentally challenged and other citizens who simply want equity. This can be done in each community across the country.

Harriett Tubman, the Pullman Porters, residents of Black Wallstreet (in Tulsa), Muhammad Ali, Dick Gregory, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Maynard Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, Oprah Winfrey, The Freedom Riders, and the Native American Code Talkers (to name a few) did not wait for a leader to emerge.  They knew Superman was not coming.  They all stepped up to do what they could to make a difference. So can you!!  Each of us can use our skills and talents to help a current organization, or start your own.  No cause is too small.  Jesus also had a plan. And, He trained twelve.

You do not have to be a rocket scientist, have a degree, or a title. If you can figure out how to go on vacation and navigate in a city or country that you have never visited, surely you can figure out how to make a difference in your neighborhood, church, or non-profit.  Or, start your own group.

As my dearly departed Godmother, Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow use to say, “If you are not at the table when plans are made, you are on the menu.”

Above: Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow (Dec. 7, 1924 – March 12, 2015).

It is time to stop talking about how bad things are. It is time to do something about it!! It is time to stop saying, “they ought to” or “the church ought to”.  Who are they?  Who is the the Church?  When is the last time you volunteered or worked on a community service project (in person or online)?

Gandhi famously said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.“

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”