Juneteenth

 A lot of people have mixed feelings about Juneteenth finally being celebrated as an official holiday in America, but I think the message behind it is that a national holiday can't correct everything happening in Black communities due to the oppression suffered for hundreds of years.

Yes the holiday like many other things are a start and move in the right direction, BUT doesn't correct or stop the systemic racism, poverty, social injustice, and police brutality that black people face everyday. An example, is the fact that Black families averagely make $17,000 a year while white families make 5-10 times more than that and THAT is crazy. This is a reality that is NOT a lie or because people are lazy. It is based in historically systemic racism. I applied for many good writing jobs in Pittsburgh, some never even responded. I got some interviews. But that was it. But you know who did answer? The Black organizations, could they pay as much as their competitors, of course not. But you take what you can get and a lot of Black families do this same thing. Also property value is important. If the real estate is in a poor neighborhood the value of the houses, schools, etc., go down. So if you live there or own property or a building in a poor neighborhood, financially the value is WAY LESS. So you have less to bargain with a bank etc. Sadly, it all goes back to money in some way. And Black people deserve reparations for being the descendants of people who worked and were enslaved for 2 centuries to build up a country that didn't love them. Juneteenth has always been our holiday and thanks for recognizing it, but recognize everything else it represents too.