What Are You Fighting For?

Frederick Douglas spoke at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1871. The quote above from that speech really stuck out to me. You can read the entire speech here shared by Ta-Neshi Coates via the Atlantic.  

Have you ever fought for what you believed to be right? Is there some cause now in which you would die for? This is the season we Americans honor those that gave their lives in service to our country. Many may disagree on why some wars were fought but at the end of the day diverse Americans benefited from the sacrifice. 

Personally I'm grateful to Union Solders that fought during the Civil War within these United States and won for my family to be free from enslavement today.  

 I received an email  this weekend from Josue Pierre, Democratic State Committee Chairman in which he credited the newly famous historian Abstrakt Goldsmith for sharing a history many of us never learned in school. This history has gained much traction over the weekend. Just in case you weren't aware read below:

This excellent commemoration reminds me of  the African Burial Ground in New York City. It is tradition for African Americans to honor our ancestors. Yesterday, Today and Forever.

This Memorial Day history was also found via The NY Times entitled The Unofficial History of Memorial Day.  by Swell Chan. 

The National Park Service is commemorating the 150 anniversary of the Civil War by sharing a series of books for order on lesser known contributions of diverse ethnic groups to the war. The effort is to make Civil War history relative to more people.  Asians and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and Native Americans stories are listed. 

The National Park Service also shares a great passage of reflection on their site regarding Emancipation and the Quest for Freedom:

"For millions of enslaved Americans, however, the end of the war was the beginning of a complex and difficult journey. Many were persecuted for their efforts to achieve and sustain true freedom. The quest for equality by former slaves, their descendants, and other Americans of color was an issue left undecided by the war." I appreciate this fact being written. This is where the beloved community and purpose picks up the paton. 

What are you fighting for today? Have you trained to pick up the pace? How would you honor those that died for your freedoms? Be guided by your spirit. Making a conscious decision to pick up the unresolved issues and fill in what's missing in our communities would be that great end.  

Action events happening in the community! 

Chess Master Mentors are invited to attend Chess at the Center 
Wednesdays 4pm- 6pm  at RAPHA 78 Saratoga Avenue Brooklyn, NY
8 yrs - adult are welcome to attend. Children must be accompanied by an adult.  

Join the Brooklyn NAACP's Civic Engagement Committee and Repair the World NYC for an evening to Get Out the Vote! Volunteers are needed to make calls to constituents of the 9th Congressional District to remind them that election season 2018 will soon be upon us.

Volunteers are needed on Wednesday May 30th from 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM for phone banking; Canvasing neighborhoods and for tabling (Registering individuals to vote).  Sign up here! 

On May 30th, the Weeksville Ambassadors of Weeksville Heritage Center are calling all millennial neighbors, young Black professionals, HBCU alum, and members of the historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities to celebrate our radical past and revolutionary future manifested through the visual arts.

Brownsville In Violence Out provides a variety of supportive services including job training, access to employment legal and therapeutic services, conflict mediation, drivers ed, health awareness and public safety seminars to youth in the community.

The Ocean Hill Brownsville Coalition of Young Professionals, OHBCYP and Planned Parenthood are providing a free workshop 'Taking Care of Your Sexual Health.'  Attendees will earn a certificate of the completion at the end of the workshop.

Want to see your positive community event posted here?  Blessmelanie@gmail.com