The Fund for Women and Girls’ Post

My first book from 2017 is free! Democratization and Memories of Violence: Ethnic Minority Rights Movements in Mexico, Turkey, and El Salvador, is now avaulable open access! https://lnkd.in/eu3E8963.

🌟 Understanding Juneteenth: Honoring Its Historical Significance 🌟 Today’s article dives deep into the historical context of Juneteenth, a day that symbolizes the end of enslavement and celebrates freedom, resilience, and the enduring fight for racial justice. By educating ourselves about this pivotal moment in history, we can better appreciate its significance and continue the struggle for equality. Key Insights: Learn about the events leading up to June 19, 1865 Discover the contributions of Black queer advocates like Barbara Smith, Stormé DeLarverie, and Phill Wilson. Explore ways to honor Juneteenth and educate others through books, documentaries, and discussions. Quote of the Day: "Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do." – Barack Obama Join our Make Shi(f)t Happen online community to delve deeper into these themes and support each other in this journey. Plus, don't miss our "Resilient Advocacy: A 5-Day Challenge for Sustainable Mental Health in Activism." Let's honor Juneteenth by committing to ongoing education and advocacy! 🌈✊🏽 🔗 Join the Community 🔗 Grab your Juneteenth Resource Guide 🔗 Register for the 5-Day Challenge 🔗 Become a Paid Subscriber to support equity in education and keep this valuable content accessible to all. https://lnkd.in/eTTEcQnm Let's continue our shared journey toward liberation and make this month a powerful testament to our resilience and strength! 💬👇🏾 #Juneteenth #Pride #Intersectionality #BlackQueerAdvocacy #SocialJustice #HistoricalContext #CollectiveHealing #EquityInEducation #MentalHealthInActivism #Liberation

Juneteenth is a day to recognize the profound significance of June 19, 1865, the day when enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation. But it is also so much more. You will often hear that this is the day that marks the true end of slavery in the U.S. Yet, we know that racial minorities continue to face systemic violence that extends the legacy of slavery into the modern era, often with little material difference. Thus, Juneteenth is a day to not just celebrate freedom, but to rededicate ourselves to racial equality. It is day to declare that the arc of history still bends toward justice, even–perhaps especially–when justice is too long deferred. #juneteenth #racialjustice #antiracism #endracism #equality

This is a must read at the top of your list for #womenshistorymonth. Another brilliantly urgent and nuanced article by Emerald Anderson-Ford.

Did you know that one of the earliest complaints that white people had about indigenous people in North America is that their communities were full of queer people? I didn't either until the past couple years! But it turns out, America was queer as fuck for millennia, until white people came and declared it gross and shameful. Let's learn some history! (I'm still fundraising to fight for my daughter, so if you share this post you can share knowledge and help me promote the GoFundMe, which I'll put in the comments). In Ned Blackhawk's excellent history "The Rediscovery of America," he quotes from French Jesuits in 1680 who reported that the largest Illinois (tribe) village included many "boys dressed as women." Blackhawk explains: "The Ojibwe term *hemaneh* refers to individuals who are "half man, half woman." Among interior communities, such two-spirit individuals held recognized social authority. They assisted in village economies and maintained religious and cultural practices. (...) Such alternative gender practices structured Illinois society." Leanne Betasamosoke Simpson expands on the ways the cultural practices (which had existed for millennia) would work in practice, in her phenomenal book "As We Have Always Done". "It's led me to consider what straightness looks like in societies where queerness is normalized, where difference isn't difference but normal. Queerness provides for and celebrates variance, including straightness, whereas heteropatriarchy sets out to destroy, control, and manipulate difference into hierarchies that position white, straight, cisgendered males as normal, and everyone else is less." What a world to imagine! A world that has existed, has been successful, and will be rebuilt as indigenous people continue to rebuild their communities and cultural practices in spite of centuries of ongoing settler colonial violence. A world where the variety of human experience and identity is celebrated, centered, and normalized. Next time you hear someone claiming that trans people have been recently invented or are some new phenomenon, hopefully this quick bit of history is a helpful antidote. (Also, remember, indigenous people in North America were here for tens of millennia with these practices; what was written in the 1500's and 1600's was the first time the evidence was captured in a way white people will believe it, but they were just reporting on cultures that were well-established. ) Thanks for reading, and if you want, please share/pass along to help with the below fundraiser.

Food For Thought: Has democracy posed a threat to some in America because of the salience of Black/Brown people, immigrants, women, LGBT folks, etc.? In other words, would the push to do away with democracy be as strong if America were 95% white? At that rate, would the agendas of the political parties be different than whattheyhavebeen? Would all parties tend to embrace democratic ideals and principles equally? The presence and salience of "minority" folks in America determine the dynamics of political life in the country. Democracy becomes a problem for some because its principles and practices aim to protect minorities against the predatory impulses of the powerful. Absent democracy, minorities, regardless of their numbers, would not pose a threat to society, for they would function as slaves and indentured servants. In short, the problem is not with democracy or with Black people and other minority groups per se. It is with the fact that democracy provides the mechanism by which minority groups are protected and afforded the opportunity to grow. So what? If they're protected and allowed to develop, there's the potential for them to become competitors for the control of available resources. That's NOT acceptable!

"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization." -- Mahatma Gandhi, 1925 At Child Advocates, we embrace the beauty and strength of our rich diversity. One definition of diversity says, "It's about empowering people by respecting and appreciating what makes them different..." and that includes in the areas of age, gender, ethnicity, race, and religion. We also honor and embrace the diversity of every child we serve. We want them to love and celebrate their uniqueness. That's why we are "Interrupting Racism for Children" with a program focused on creating communities where children's race will never determine their life outcomes. It's a mission that remains necessary yesterday, today, and tomorrow. For us, it's always about the children. So, let's build them a better future. Won't you join us? Learn more: https://ow.ly/Xi6j50QwkN5 #equity #diversity #inclusion #racialequity #children #childadvocacy #justice

THE OUTSIDE IS ONLY A MIRROR OF THE INSIDE: Ancient scriptures show that FREEDOM is a natural state of the subconscious mind or soul that is eternal and limitless. The soul is ANDROGENIC by nature, i.e. MALE AND FEMALE ARE INSEPARABLE ONE at the soul level. In order to EXPERIENCE ITSELF under conditions of limitation, the soul created a conscious mind or ego that creates and governs physical reality. Because of this, the natural MALE-FEMALE UNITY at the soul level is perceived at the ego level as SEPARATION AND CONFLICT BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN with the aim of establishing SUPREMEITY OF ONE OVER THE OTHER. Human development goes in the direction of ABSORPTION OF THE EGO INTO THE SOUL from which it originated. This implies that the soul receives INFORMATION ABOUT ALL EXPERIENCES of separation and conflict between the male and female principles, regardless of whether the experiences are in the male or female physical body. In practical terms, this means approaching FREEDOM AS THE NATURAL STATE OF ALL PEOPLE. It also means approaching the UNITY AND HARMONY OF THE MALE AND FEMALE PRINCIPLES, regardless of whether they are in a MALE OR FEMALE PHYSICAL BODY. The harmony between MAN AND WOMAN is, in this sense, JUST A MIRROR REFLECTION of the inner harmony of the male and female principles. #malefemaleunity #equilibrium #jasnicaklaramatic

Today, July 25th, as the Festival of the Diaspora and Casa Innovation, we highlight the historic and tireless work that Black women have carried out for the development of countries across the American continent and the world.🌎 ✅It is a day to recognize the work of women of African descent in the fight against racial discrimination, sexism, poverty, and marginalization. ✅To highlight the importance of guaranteeing their rights and reducing socioeconomic inequalities for Afro-descendant women in the region and the world. ✅It is a call for collective reflection to reject racism, racial discrimination, and violence against Black women. ✅To raise awareness of the specific challenges faced by Afro-descendant women and advocate for policies and practices that promote equity, social justice, and better opportunities. We recognize the strong and visionary spirit of Afro-descendant women who are part of our ecosystem, and who work every day to reduce social inequalities. We commemorate their legacy!💪🏿