Sunrise on the Atlantic, Pompano Beach FL, February 2020. A lot has changed since I took this picture. The corona virus had just reared it head in China the prior month. Our government's reaction was muted at best. George Floyd was still walking around living his life and I was enjoying the sunshine and the beach taking long walks along the intercoastal waterway, stopping to photograph the scenes around me. It was a time for looking within and feeling the moments. Again, John, maybe meditation. We came home, went to Jersey for our annual outing, spent my last time with Nunzio and the others. Then a birthday arrived, 70 which my younger self never thought I'd see. At the end of that week, our world was upended. The virus was spreading rampantly and Michigan at the wise stewardship of our governor, shut down and we stayed inside and ate at home. We are now moving our of our lock down condition with some trepidation.
On June 19th 1865 the Emancipation Proclamation which had been issued on January 1, 1863 was read to enslaved African Americans in Texas by Gordon Granger. It was over 2 years since Lincoln had issued his proclamation and these were that last enslaved Americans to be freed. Now this day is known as Juneteenth. We were never told this in American History in high school. I did not know the significance of this date. Again, I am ashamed for my lack of knowledge. I suspect that many of the readers of this posting did not know if it either.
The protests of George Floyd's murder have continued with all ethnicities participating. As we watch this ensuing, I hope we can look within ourselves and lay bare our racist thoughts and prejudices. I know this has affected me profoundly. I am trying to cast off my history and that of my extended family to come to understand why my feelings are racist at times. Even though disgusted with myself, those feelings need to be cast out.
If you have Netflix, please take the time to view Just Mercy with Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. It is a very telling tale about our justice system as it pertains to black men. Also consider Selma, looking back at a dark time in our history and the political leaders of the time. It documents the March over the Edmund Pettus bridge by Dr. King and his freedom fighters in 1965. He was only 39 at the time of his assignation, the age of Andrew my son.
Seeing all this, as well as my night with the homeless men at St. Dennis Church, seeing Shannon for the first time as a baby, my marriage and all my children and grandchildren changed me.
Look in the mirror.
stay safe
all for now
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