Sigh. When we can’t deal with reality, we deal in symbols.
We put up statues to memorialize, and anoint heroes, as a political act… Why really vile Insurrectionist Generals like NB Forrest, or corrupt Segregationist politicians like GA’s Eugene Talmadge or NC’s Zebulon Vance were needed as heroes is a testament to White Bigotry..
Not to mention George Armstrong Custer, William S Harney, and the lesser-known bigots of yore (such as corrupt territorial officials) who would otherwise be long forgotten if they didn’t live on in monuments and place-names.
Sad as fuck that an extra work holiday is about a good a thing as way too many workers get in these new-serf times.
Slightly more germane: Based on the MLK birthday holiday, this will achieve nothing substantive. I of course defer to anyone who’s made proud or happy by the existence of the holiday.
A ginormous slice of the American labor force does not get those kind of holidays off --so basically "Juneteenth" is now a day where white-collar workers & management get another perk off the backs of Black Americans.
I find it funny that the last federal holiday was signed into law by Regan.
It was MLK Day, and I was in DC for it.
I remember the euphoria, how happy every Black person was, and how it was a “BIG CHANGE!”
I, as always, kept it 100 and told everyone that not a damned thing will truly change.
My father was PISSED that it was a day off from work - “THIS IS NOT what I marched for, a fucking federal holiday…out Black asses should be WORKING - because THAT is what our ancestors died for, to work and thrive, not be in bed all fucking day!”
In 1972 Randy Newman released one of the classic American albums - Sail Away. The title song , considered by many to be one of Newman's best, is a drop dead ironic recounting of the sales pitch a slaver may have used to convince Africans to sail away to America, the land of opportunity. The sweet, gentle song packs a real gut punch once you realize where it's coming from.
A year later. On prime time TV, on the new breakout CBS hit, The Sonny and Cher Show, Fifties Pop music icon, the crooner Bobby Darin, offered up his swinging version. Newman famously commented that he didn't think Darin quite understood that it wasn't a happy song. I have a pretty high opinion of Darin's talent and taste and think perhaps he felt that the swinging showbiz version actually upped the irony quotient of the song. Either way - yikes!
Senator RonJon (R-Serfs) went to Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration and was booed, after he even voted for the damn thing, how dare they? Instead of holidaying, those unemployed Milwaukeeans should move north and fill the seasonal jobs in Minoqua, summer destination of hordes of white Chicagoans and home of Wisconsin’s most right-wing Representative, Tom Tiffany. “Enough singing and dancing, get back to work!”
I know there has been grumbling from some on the left that this is a hollow gesture (and of course the right always grumbles when POC get anything), but I think this is an important move. To paraphrase Roy, a small prize on the way to bigger things. I never heard of Juneteenth while in school, as I'm sure is true of most people who didn't grow up in Texas and parts adjacent, but can you think of a more uncynical day of celebration? Forget what was to come in the years ahead, but just appreciate that Juneteenth marks the day when we as a country finally finished freeing its people unjustly held in bondage by their fellow countrymen. Plus, it marks another delicious victory of the Union over the Confederacy.
Again, we know what was to come, but Juneteenth wasn't a holiday created by white people as a token gesture. It was a day celebrated by black folks for years before it hit the national radar. Marking the date as one of both joy and remembrance? It's the least we can do as a nation.
I heard the head of our local NAACP chapter say that when she was a girl, Juneteenth meant, to her, barbecues in the park. She had no idea what the holiday meant, but it sure was fun. That's as it should be.
This is why Critical Race Theory should be taught in all schools all over the planet.
Everyone knows why there is fun for the 4th of July, right?
Do you know how many Black people never learned about that FUCKERY in Texas…WHO LIVE IN TEXAS, let alone the rest of the country, and how mad they are that they don’t know?
But Slave owners who “founded” and “framed” this country are on our currency, and replacing with Jefferson with Harriet is met with horrific racism and backlash.
What does it say about us that we needed to do that?
Britain, Spain, France, before us, and Brazil too late (largely, I've heard, to avoid a mass migration of rich American Southerners, because they'd met some) all ended slavery without a war, meaning figuratively no-one there loved the institution enough to risk dying for it, as they did during the Civil War and at the Alamo.
"Those n*****s should shut up about 'freedoms' and get back to work."
Andrew Johnson, 1865 or Jonah Goldberg, 2021? Either fits.
Or Andrew Sullivan, just replace 'freedoms' with 'getting shot by cops'
"He who feels it knows it"
Wouldn't "he who smelt it dealt it" be a more appropriate tagline for a column referencing Goldberg?
“It’s a small prize in place of bigger things.”
Sigh. When we can’t deal with reality, we deal in symbols.
We put up statues to memorialize, and anoint heroes, as a political act… Why really vile Insurrectionist Generals like NB Forrest, or corrupt Segregationist politicians like GA’s Eugene Talmadge or NC’s Zebulon Vance were needed as heroes is a testament to White Bigotry..
Not to mention George Armstrong Custer, William S Harney, and the lesser-known bigots of yore (such as corrupt territorial officials) who would otherwise be long forgotten if they didn’t live on in monuments and place-names.
Yeah bigotry against the Native Americans is very under reported today. Partially because most of it is not in the big cities on the coasts
Jonah Goldberg writing about Juneteenth in an article entitled "American Passover " is pretty fucked up. That he got paid for it is
Unspeakable, apparently.
That Jonah gets paid for anything he writes is a small but notable tragedy.
Usually doesn't he crowdsource more than write?
An anti-honky white privilege POV here:
Sad as fuck that an extra work holiday is about a good a thing as way too many workers get in these new-serf times.
Slightly more germane: Based on the MLK birthday holiday, this will achieve nothing substantive. I of course defer to anyone who’s made proud or happy by the existence of the holiday.
Apologies for the cynicism dump.
A ginormous slice of the American labor force does not get those kind of holidays off --so basically "Juneteenth" is now a day where white-collar workers & management get another perk off the backs of Black Americans.
I guess the point is: I'll see your cynicism & raise you three more.
My man! I knew you’d catch any error(s).
So, though, my hunch that this new holiday will be a game changer is correct?
I find it funny that the last federal holiday was signed into law by Regan.
It was MLK Day, and I was in DC for it.
I remember the euphoria, how happy every Black person was, and how it was a “BIG CHANGE!”
I, as always, kept it 100 and told everyone that not a damned thing will truly change.
My father was PISSED that it was a day off from work - “THIS IS NOT what I marched for, a fucking federal holiday…out Black asses should be WORKING - because THAT is what our ancestors died for, to work and thrive, not be in bed all fucking day!”
Sort of what I thought. Thanks, C!
In 1972 Randy Newman released one of the classic American albums - Sail Away. The title song , considered by many to be one of Newman's best, is a drop dead ironic recounting of the sales pitch a slaver may have used to convince Africans to sail away to America, the land of opportunity. The sweet, gentle song packs a real gut punch once you realize where it's coming from.
A year later. On prime time TV, on the new breakout CBS hit, The Sonny and Cher Show, Fifties Pop music icon, the crooner Bobby Darin, offered up his swinging version. Newman famously commented that he didn't think Darin quite understood that it wasn't a happy song. I have a pretty high opinion of Darin's talent and taste and think perhaps he felt that the swinging showbiz version actually upped the irony quotient of the song. Either way - yikes!
https://youtu.be/W4DV1t58pBk
I watched it. Golly! (It's the uptempo climax that really made me say OMG.)
Yipes.
Senator RonJon (R-Serfs) went to Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration and was booed, after he even voted for the damn thing, how dare they? Instead of holidaying, those unemployed Milwaukeeans should move north and fill the seasonal jobs in Minoqua, summer destination of hordes of white Chicagoans and home of Wisconsin’s most right-wing Representative, Tom Tiffany. “Enough singing and dancing, get back to work!”
I know there has been grumbling from some on the left that this is a hollow gesture (and of course the right always grumbles when POC get anything), but I think this is an important move. To paraphrase Roy, a small prize on the way to bigger things. I never heard of Juneteenth while in school, as I'm sure is true of most people who didn't grow up in Texas and parts adjacent, but can you think of a more uncynical day of celebration? Forget what was to come in the years ahead, but just appreciate that Juneteenth marks the day when we as a country finally finished freeing its people unjustly held in bondage by their fellow countrymen. Plus, it marks another delicious victory of the Union over the Confederacy.
Again, we know what was to come, but Juneteenth wasn't a holiday created by white people as a token gesture. It was a day celebrated by black folks for years before it hit the national radar. Marking the date as one of both joy and remembrance? It's the least we can do as a nation.
“Million Moe March”?
How did the Three Stooges get swept up in this mishigas?
I heard the head of our local NAACP chapter say that when she was a girl, Juneteenth meant, to her, barbecues in the park. She had no idea what the holiday meant, but it sure was fun. That's as it should be.
She had no idea what the holiday meant, and that it was only fun?
That’s absolutely not how it should be.
She was a little kid. Isn't having fun the goal at that age? She learned as she grew.
Please read what I wrote again.
I never said that having fun was wrong.
This is why Critical Race Theory should be taught in all schools all over the planet.
Everyone knows why there is fun for the 4th of July, right?
Do you know how many Black people never learned about that FUCKERY in Texas…WHO LIVE IN TEXAS, let alone the rest of the country, and how mad they are that they don’t know?
But Slave owners who “founded” and “framed” this country are on our currency, and replacing with Jefferson with Harriet is met with horrific racism and backlash.
Sure, we fought a war to end slavery.
What does it say about us that we needed to do that?
Britain, Spain, France, before us, and Brazil too late (largely, I've heard, to avoid a mass migration of rich American Southerners, because they'd met some) all ended slavery without a war, meaning figuratively no-one there loved the institution enough to risk dying for it, as they did during the Civil War and at the Alamo.