History Vs. HIStory

 

 In 1940, when Louis Jordan recorded "Juneteenth Jambouree" for Decca, the record company titled it "June Tenth" - probably because white people, then, had no more idea about the holiday than white people do, today. So, they assumed Jordan had made a mistake and "corrected" the spelling for him - which was just another insult, also recorded for prosperity.

For some reason, I think he would've been pleased.

 

Dallas County Unwittingly Backs Slavery Reparations

Corn rows, glasses, and a bow tie? This is not a man to be fucked with.

Dallas, Texas' John Wiley Price caught the white boys sleeping: 

 The 'Juneteenth Resolution,' commemorating the day slaves in Texas learned of freedom, seemed to be another routine proclamation,....

But Price’s resolution included injustices endured by blacks, from slavery to Jim Crow to predatory lending practices. Then, in its final paragraph, it declared that the suffering of African-Americans should be 'satisfied with monetary and substantial reparations.'

Price read the entire document aloud at the meeting,...the commissioners didn’t seem to be listening with a critical ear. With no discussion, Price’s resolution was approved by voice vote.

...He said he wrote the resolution after reading an article in The Atlantic making the case for reparations.

Ta-Nehisi Coates, Baby! While whites are already telling me the movement's over - before it's even really begun!!! 

(Of course, believing them would violate the whole purpose of listening to them, for this exercise.) Hat's off to Mr. Price:

The apocalyptic white folks have to stay on their toes now - because we're coming with American ethics - or, as they've liked to say in front of all who'd listen, "by hook or by crook":

It's the end of the world!!!

 

June Nineteenth Is The Official Day Of Black Freedom

Three sorta-interesting “Emancipation Day” tidbits (I think, anyway) taken from "8 Things You May Not Know about Juneteenth":

Before the emancipation, there were limitations placed on the way a slaves could dress. But once the law was lifted, slaves tossed their ragged garments into the creeks and dressed in the clothing taken from the plantations owned by their former masters.

Once the black community became aware that slavery had come to an end, it is said that there was an immediate jubilation of former slaves celebrating in the streets.  What they did not know, however, is that the 13th amendment to the United States Constitution did not bring an official end to slavery.  Instead, it still allows slavery to be legal in the United States if you’ve been convicted of a crime.

The legislation met resistance by African-American representative Clay Smothers. He declared the holiday as “fraudulent,”and detested the idea of “ceremoniously grinning and bursting watermelons on the Capitol grounds.”