Happy James Baldwin Day
Make this happen: Let’s turn Independence Day into James Baldwin Day, and spend that time calling America on its unfulfilled promises.
An altered American flag in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone, June 12, 2020
Much of the United States finally seems interested in learning how to be anti-racist, or at least interested in books about it. Why not keep the momentum going? Let’s have a federally-recognized holiday when Americans evaluate their anti-racist growth and make concrete plans and policy changes that would help us do even better. Think of it as love in action.
We’d also be honoring author James Baldwin’s lifelong dedication to holding this country accountable for its racism. It seems right that we follow up on the nationwide protests against police brutality by using Baldwin’s searing criticism as an action guide.
Don’t worry — we’ll still party for Freedom-with-a-capital-F with flags and hot dogs and raisin-free potato salad. We’ll just do it on Juneteenth — a celebration of actual enslaved people leaving bondage.
Amped up to #amplifyBlackvoices
Whoa! Do you even know how many people and organizations are using their influence to amplify Black voices? This month, influential people and organizations are chasing Black artists like Brits following a cheese wheel downhill.
You probably know I’ve benefited from the attention, so… I might be a little biased.
There’s also:
YouTube’s “multiyear” $100 million fund to “center and amplify Black voices and perspectives”
Singer Halsey’s Black Creators Fund
Artist Trust’s list of Black-led arts and heritage organizations that you can support with your time and money
A ton of individuals, corporations and non-profits lending their social media to amplify Black voices. Ahem.
All right, I’ll bite (the hand currently feeding me). How long does the amplification last this time?
How many years in a YouTube “multiyear” commitment? Which specific Black creators benefit from the Halsey fund? Any social media takeover invites next year to artists with fewer than a thousand followers? Let’s act on this moment consistently — persistently — not just before and after Black History Month. Pace yourself. We’ll need your support in 2021 and 2022 and 2023…