THE FOURTH OF JULY--- FREDERICK DOUGLASS: REFLECTION ON RACE AND OUR COUNTRY TODAY

THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2008

JJ: you touched the other side of me. The one I am trying to keep to myself and share only with very close friends in those moments when we trust one another and have the energy to look at the underbelly of our country. Even then, I am most uncomfortable admitting to myself and others that self-hate, fear, and resentment of anyone who differs from us in skin color, religion, economic class, and sexual orientation still divide us.

The story you pointed us to in your comment led me to choose to invite our readers to consider that which divides us... always knowing that we can make the choice to reach out to each other, listen to, learn from, and join with each other in creating a space where every human being will feel respected and supported. Thanks, Stephanie...
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EmeraldPrincessOnline said...
Yes, indeed. We've come a long way, but there remain some rough spots.Did you read the story from Houston that was in the news yesterday? It was a headline-grabbing horror story about a murder victim. She was a white woman (whose hands and head had also been severed) who was dumped like garbage more than a year ago and remains unidentified. Authorities wanted to bury her, but the town's only cemetery is all black, so people complained. Then the coroner's office transferred the arrangements to a white cemetery and that brought up further protests while her remains lie in limbo and as yet unclaimed and unidentifiable. Copy and paste the following link into your browser to read the details, if you missed it; it is quite a sad story -- even though we have come this far. http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/02/burial.dispute.ap/index.html?iref=24hours
July 3, 2008 2:06 PM


Here is where our readers can find the article about which you wrote:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/02/burial.dispute.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

Here is the title of the article and highlights from the story
Murder victim's burial stirs racial tension

Story Highlights
Unidentified murder victim would be first white buried in black cemetery
Officials in Waller County, Texas, balk at paying for funeral
Black minister files federal lawsuit after officials hire white funeral home
Meanwhile, the woman's murder remains unsolved

Please note I am not looking for sympathy... nor am I trying to cause discomfort...
just KEEPING THE CONVERSATION REAL

I invite you to share your hurts, hopes, and dreams for the Fourth


Here is a presentation of Frederick Douglass' Fourth of July Speech