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| ISSUE NO. 697 |
| ON THE HORIZON . . . this week is the celebration of the freedom of enslaved people in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, otherwise known as Juneteenth. It is followed by the summer solstice on June 20th, the longest day of sunlight in the year. The National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC, begins an article about Juneteenth with the phrase, "Freedom's Eve." This refers to the night preceding January 1, 1863, when "enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect." Knowing that June 19, 1865, did not occur until a full two and a half years later gives us some perspective on the amount of time it takes to enact change - in one stroke, when midnight bells rang out and the Emancipation Proclamation took legal effect...and in the years, decades, centuries that followed, each unit of time carrying freedom on its own schedule...right up until today, when Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is the story of each individual touched by freedom in their own way. Thinking of that beautiful phrase, 'freedom's eve', it strikes me that today (Tuesday) is the freedom's eve of this Juneteenth, and that likewise, this Juneteenth is the freedom's eve of the summer solstice. With the latter holding such practical and spiritual significance for humans over thousands of years, it feels appropriate and meaningful to reflect more deeply on the concept of a 'freedom's eve' in any number of moments in history - perhaps especially where we are right now, with myriad personal and global crises on our minds and hearts. If you were on the eve of freedom today...what would you do with tomorrow? What would you take with you from today, and what would you leave behind? If these questions resonate with you, you might want to check out Desiree Adaway's mid-year reflections in her newsletter, where she writes: "It can be hard to make the time for reflection but it is critical to our learning and unlearning. Due to the systems of oppression we live within, this is not by accident but by design." And if you're feeling overwhelmed by the energy of this time of year, you're not alone. This is something we are feeling more generally, with the increased light, heat, and growth around us, and more specifically as parents of school-age children, navigating the end-of-year celebrations - and all the very real grief that comes with the recognition of milestones - as we embark on a season of having a very different routine, with less time for ourselves and our non-parenting work. In the simplest way, this solstice time, this 'freedom's eve', offers us the chance to consider Tamar Adler's summation in the latest Kitchen Shrink: "There is always a thing that matters, and things that don’t. Part of becoming a good cook is learning to discern them." What is the thing that matters to you, and how are you going to discern it in the coming days and months? In Community, photo by Alexa Romano |
tidbits...resources on anti-racism, environmentalism and food culture AKA stuff we're reading / listening to / watching / noticing / thinking about / captivated by this Tuesday . . . According to Monique Melton, "True recognition of Juneteenth should involve acknowledging ongoing racial disparities and actively working to address them." How does one go about this? Melton's 21-Day Pursue Black Liberation challenge is a place to start. |
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