HAPPY FRIDAY! HAPPY JUNETEENTH!

I thought long and hard about whether I had any authority to write anything about Juneteenth. I am not of African-American descent. 

But then I thought, “so what?” This is a celebration of triumph over institutional slavery, over degradation of human dignity, and repression. It is a celebration of freedom won against incredible odds. 

We all need to celebrate human dignity and freedom. Especially lately. 

Then I thought (especially having just seen the musical SUFFS) that women were enslaved, denied human rights and dignity. 

Then I thought about the systematic genocide of Jews and other campaigns against minority peoples throughout the world. 

What is frightening is this: in the grander scheme of time on earth, this was not so long ago. My grandmother saw women get the right to vote. There are still survivors of the Holocaust…

And it can happen again. 

If we let it. 

Take a minute and let that sink in. 

We all need to celebrate Juneteenth.