Alabama Rural Ministry’s Post

Happy Flag Day! Today, we celebrate the symbol of our nation's unity, pride, and freedom. Let's honor the stars and stripes that represent our values and history. Today, we commemorate the adoption of the American flag on June 14, 1777, by the Second Continental Congress. Flag Day is a time to honor the stars and stripes that symbolize our nation's unity, pride, and freedom. Flag Day celebrates: ✨ Historical Significance: The anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as our official flag. ✨ National Pride: An opportunity to show respect and reverence for the flag, symbolizing our nation's values and ideals. ✨ Patriotic Education: Educating citizens, especially the younger generation, about the flag's history and significance. ✨ Unity and Freedom: Representing the unity of the states and the freedoms our country stands for. Flag Day, officially established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and later by Congress in 1949, it is a reminder of the principles and sacrifices that have shaped the United States. #FlagDay #Pride #Freedom #UnitedWeStand #SmallBusiness #Community #GNDC #NortheasternMontana #CommunityStrength #EconomicGrowth #CommunitySupport #GNDC30Years #GNDCAnniversary #30YearsOfGrowth #30YearOfChange #3DecadesOfGNDC #Economicgrowth #EconomicImpact #LocalBusiness #MontanaGrowth #GNDC30 #GNDCSuccess

📅 Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the end of slavery in the United States, commemorating the day in 1865 when federal troops announced freedom for all enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. It's a pivotal opportunity to discuss racism and discrimination in the classroom. 📚 Resources: - Lesson Plans - Articles - Information Sites 🔗 Click the link in our bio to access our topic guides! #United4SC #Academy4SC #Leaders4SC #Educators4SC #Research4SC #Scholars4SC #Students4SC

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce to the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state, that they were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as “Juneteenth.” Learn more about The Centers' fight for equity at thecentersohio.org/impact.

Community organization and community control were the basis of everything the BPP tried to do. In 1969 alone, 28 of its members were killed by the police. The state’s strategy was to push the BPP into an armed confrontation it could not win. Members were jailed, harassed, set up and gunned down. FBI agents, under the COINTELPRO program, were sent in to destabilize the Panthers. In consequence, much of the BPP’s energies were sucked into defense campaigns, and chapters across the US were set against each other. Yet the Panthers’ community-based work remain models of how revolutionary organizations should work with non-revolutionary groups to meet the needs of the communities they are part of. The breakfast for children program involved the BPP working with community volunteers to distribute food to the black community. “Hunger is one of the means of oppression and it must be halted.” The BPP set up liberation schools, teaching everything from basic literacy to black history. “We recognize that education is only relevant when it teaches the art of survival.” #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth Video by: Yours Truly

This blog post truly reflects our profound learning experience in Montgomery, Alabama. It truly reflected our mission of “Leadership for Just and Humane Schools” at the National Superintendents Roundtable. What a power symposium!

Perfectly stated. What will you do today?

Maybe two years ago while sitting at a rooftop in North Hills, a close friend with a different skintone than me looked around, and whispered in my ear, “North Hills is getting pretty dark, isn’t it?” I was confused. “Yeah the sun is going down, I guess it’s getting late.” He motioned with his eyes, and I realized maybe 50% of the classy rooftop guests had similar skintones to my own. I laughed it off, but it was the first insight I got into how (some) white people, being 60% of the nation’s population, oftentimes don’t feel comfortable in spaces with patrons of darker complexions. In 1865, people in Texas heard the news for the first time that they no longer had to be shackled. Today, Texas has the largest black population, but only at 14% compared to the 12% national average. During slavery, men, women, and children were chained, beaten, starved, and suffered horrible assaults and living conditions. They worked every day under the imprisonment of other families. The average slaved lived to only 21 years old, while the average white person lived twice as long to 40+ years old. Slaverly still continued illegally for a while after 1865. It was not that long ago. Slavery didn’t really end hundreds of years ago. It continued mentally. It is still relevant to how black and brown people whose ancestors were enslaved go about navigating this country. This affects our health, education, standard of living, job search, home-buying and overall income earning potential. There’s also the quiet and insidious bias others may have towards black men and women they don’t even recognize. If you observe this holiday, take inventory of your circle. How often do you interact with and celebrate black and brown men and women for their accomplishments? Do you acknowledge how challenging overcoming slavery must be, even today? Do you make an effort to learn more about cultures different than your own? Do you get uncomfortable if a black person drives a nice car, is at a nice restaurant, or moves into your neighborhood? Do you recognize that if a black American has achieved a high level of success, it may have been much harder to achieve based on our countries recent history of slavery? Today, assess your bias. Learn about your family’s history and the history of your friends. Maybe ask them how you can be a better friend surrounding the topic of race. Ignoring that these things are real and vastly affected Americans is hugely problematic- we must do better as a society and unified country. Black and brown people are resilient, forgiving, loving, intelligent, capable, innovative, and deserving of safe spaces to work, live, grow our families, and thrive! I hope that as time goes on, the small number of 14% of black people in this country grows, as we shed the limiting beliefs historically forced on us, and pursue better resources, education, and jobs.

Your tip regarding 10 seconds is so important! By taking the time to wait is greatly appreciated so both people are able to understand, talk and be heard.

☮️ Peace, in the words of Jimmy Carter, is “the unfailing effort to secure human rights.” All right thinking people want to live in peace, and want that for others. Watch my recent contribution to a debate on peace, and how we might best achieve it:

THIS is what #Advocacy looks like! #AdvocatesForLeadershipAndEmployment #2024PublicPolicyForum National Industries for the Blind #NAEPB #RehabilitationServicesAdministration #DisabilityEmployment #CompetitiveIntegratedEmployment #BlindAndVisuallyImpairedInclusion #ChampionEmploymentGrowth