I am having difficulty finding the right words to express the depravity of Trump's actions this day.
Beginning on the evening of May 31st, 1921, the prosperous neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was brutally attacked and destroyed by a white mob. On the all-too-common pretext of a young black man allegedly violating a white woman, these white men killed hundreds, wounded thousands, and destroyed what was often referred to as "Black Wall Street".
Greenwood was a symbol of Black prosperity in America: despite being given nothing after Emancipation — unlike just about every other immigrant population in the United States — these African Americans pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and built a thriving community, in spite of the Black Codes, Jim Crow, chain gangs, and all the other atrocities and obstacles facing them.
The attack on Greenwood was a military-style assault whose meaning was clear: you will not prosper. You will not grow. You will not be permitted to rise to the level of the white man. You will know your place, or we will kill you until you do.
Note that the "but her emails" New York Times barely mentions the Tulsa massacre.
Juneteenth is a commemoration and celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas, and announced the Emancipation Proclamation and the surrender of the Confederacy. Opinions differ as to why the Proclamation took two and a half years to make its way to Texas; nonetheless, on that day, General Granger issued General Order Number Three:
The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.
Again, note that the "bothsiderism" New York Times barely mentions Juneteenth, or its significance to African Americans.
The hatred and racism of Impeached President Donald Trump is well known, but I am having difficulty fathoming the depravity of his choice:
Donald Trump is re-starting his MAGA rallies on June 19th, 2020.
In Tulsa, Oklahoma.
This is not code. This is not dog whistling. This is an out-and-out statement to racist, MAGA America:
I am one of you. We are in this together.
To paraphrase O'Brien from 1984: "Imagine a knee, pressing on America's neck - forever."
No doubt the Freepers and the Proud Boys are dancing a jig in their Confederate battle flag underwear, celebrating their heroic führer's owning of the libs. Meanwhile, the other 62% (and rising!) of America marvels in horror as this racist, wannabe dictator careens from one travesty to another.
I am a white dude. I can't really understand how painful this must be for Black Americans, particularly in the wake of the execution of George Floyd. I can only imagine. And I can only imagine the racist, hate-fueled glee of "men" like Stephen Miller and Donald Trump as they parade their latest disgusting act before America.
Edited a few times to clean up line break formatting. Sorry! I haven’t published a diary in twelve years.
Thursday, Jun 11, 2020 · 4:47:29 PM +00:00
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Formica
Obligatory "oh my goodness, the rec list" (Or Trending List I see it's called now)! Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendations. I went to make dinner for my partner last night after I figured out my formatting issues. It's quite a thing to wake up and see I've been able to raise a little awareness as to how blatantly evil Commander Babyfinger's actions really are. I'm going over your comments now. Again, thank you :-)