From Juneteenth through Pride and July 4, it’s a special time. I stop often to reflect on our nation, where we were, where we have come. This past weekend was a perfect symbol in my own mind of the promise of America. My niece Kaili wed her fiancé Ramsay at a beautiful ceremony inside a grove of redwoods in Berkeley, California, the town where Kaili’s parents and her grandparents also were married. Kaili’s father (my brother John) is Chinese, and her late mother Rachael was white. Ramsay’s father is from Burkina Faso in Africa, and his mother is white. Together the newlyweds make a striking, multiracial couple. Here they are, with Kaili wearing her mama’s wedding dress, and Ramsay in traditional West African formal wear.
Exactly! I don't get it either. Diversity is a beautiful thing, it's good for education, good for culture, good for cooking, and good for the genetic pool - what's not to love?
Psychologically, I think the background is that some people feel the need to control everything around them. These tend to be people who love rules, and love to have everybody else live by the same rules. Anything that's unfamiliar is perceived as something they can't control, and therefore a threat. It's not just people, either; it can be clothing, unfamiliar food, and a lot more. And doesn't apply to other ethnicities, either. You get a similar disconnect between urban and rural populations, for instance (The terms "city slickers" and "country bumpkins" illustrate that nicely).
To experience the enrichment, one first has to get past this threat, and that's easier for people who don't have this impulse to control everything.
Love, love. love this. My first boyfriend (in the late 1970s) was Japanese American, and I am white. We were out for dinner and dancing at Bobby McGee's in Southern California. When we were on the dance floor with several other couples, there was a moment that we realized every couple was mixed race. It filled us all with joy and has stayed with me as an ideal all these years.
Last week my neighborhood had a block party. We live in an upstate NY small city. Like this beautiful wedding, our party was filled with people of many heritages, ages and identities. Children played. We shared a dish to pass meal. We talked about helping each other in our gardens and with projects. And we talked about the growing threat to the lives we are quietly, peacefully living. We agreed that the way to resist that is to stay connected and vow to protect each other. And that Love wins!
One encouraging thing about the young people today - many of them genuinely don’t think too much about race or gender. Interracial couples are seen as normal, if a woman says “this is my wife” nobody even blinks, it’s all just life to Gen Z. Of course, I’m in a large metropolitan area, so the young people I work with may be more liberal than in other parts of the country.
And that's why people with more racist inclinations are feeling so threatened by everything "woke". Let's hope that people like Trump and DeSantis are reflections of this being a last stand of a dying mindset.
I loved this post. In my own family of Irish/Dutch descent, I adopted my daughter from Guatemala, and my son married a Filipino girl and they just had their first baby, a son with red hair❤️. Love wins
I love you Jo. Reading this brought me to tears! I also know now that the reason I cry is not just emotions-- it’s when I read, hear or feel something sincere and true. I love all your newsletters, but these are the ones I save and keep ❤️
Greetings from Galveston - where Juneteenth began. I just finished portraying Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in reading the Third General Order which freed the slaves in Texas and the rest of the former Confederacy. I call Juneteenth to the Fourth of July the "Season of Freedom."
I will never understand why people are afraid of racial & religious diversity. You’re not being replaced; you’re being enriched.
Exactly! I don't get it either. Diversity is a beautiful thing, it's good for education, good for culture, good for cooking, and good for the genetic pool - what's not to love?
Great point Paula! The sick propaganda machine is fueling this idea but Jay is right. Love always wins. 👍🏻
Psychologically, I think the background is that some people feel the need to control everything around them. These tend to be people who love rules, and love to have everybody else live by the same rules. Anything that's unfamiliar is perceived as something they can't control, and therefore a threat. It's not just people, either; it can be clothing, unfamiliar food, and a lot more. And doesn't apply to other ethnicities, either. You get a similar disconnect between urban and rural populations, for instance (The terms "city slickers" and "country bumpkins" illustrate that nicely).
To experience the enrichment, one first has to get past this threat, and that's easier for people who don't have this impulse to control everything.
Some people have very narrow circles and see no beauty in diversity.
https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/p/thinking-outside-the-carton
Love, love. love this. My first boyfriend (in the late 1970s) was Japanese American, and I am white. We were out for dinner and dancing at Bobby McGee's in Southern California. When we were on the dance floor with several other couples, there was a moment that we realized every couple was mixed race. It filled us all with joy and has stayed with me as an ideal all these years.
What a lovely story. May the newlyweds be blessed with many years of happiness.
Thank you, Jay. I needed to hear this; we all need to see this. May we all feel this.
Thank you, Jay!
This is exactly what we are working to protect -- the America we believe in.
So easy to forget how extraordinary a place this is. Love renews our faith and gives us hope!
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Jay a wonderful story of your Family and Americas journey.
There is hope for a brighter future.❤️
Last week my neighborhood had a block party. We live in an upstate NY small city. Like this beautiful wedding, our party was filled with people of many heritages, ages and identities. Children played. We shared a dish to pass meal. We talked about helping each other in our gardens and with projects. And we talked about the growing threat to the lives we are quietly, peacefully living. We agreed that the way to resist that is to stay connected and vow to protect each other. And that Love wins!
One encouraging thing about the young people today - many of them genuinely don’t think too much about race or gender. Interracial couples are seen as normal, if a woman says “this is my wife” nobody even blinks, it’s all just life to Gen Z. Of course, I’m in a large metropolitan area, so the young people I work with may be more liberal than in other parts of the country.
I feel I see this too. I have grandsons in high school and I don't think they give diversity a second thought. I hope this for our future.
And that's why people with more racist inclinations are feeling so threatened by everything "woke". Let's hope that people like Trump and DeSantis are reflections of this being a last stand of a dying mindset.
This! This is what we've been striving for!
Love, love, love this, especially as a member of a multi-racial, multi-religious family! So much for all of you to celebrate!
I loved this post. In my own family of Irish/Dutch descent, I adopted my daughter from Guatemala, and my son married a Filipino girl and they just had their first baby, a son with red hair❤️. Love wins
I love you Jo. Reading this brought me to tears! I also know now that the reason I cry is not just emotions-- it’s when I read, hear or feel something sincere and true. I love all your newsletters, but these are the ones I save and keep ❤️
I love you too, Mimi!
The period between Flag Day, 6/14, and July 4th is known as ‘Honor America Days.’ President Clinton signed this into law in 1998.
So beautiful! I really needed this uplift today, Jay. Congrats to your niece, her husband and your entire family.
Beautiful. Thank you, and congratulations to your niece.
Greetings from Galveston - where Juneteenth began. I just finished portraying Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger in reading the Third General Order which freed the slaves in Texas and the rest of the former Confederacy. I call Juneteenth to the Fourth of July the "Season of Freedom."
What an honor to play that role!
What a beautiful family. I wish you all so well... and thank you, Jay.
We needed this today.