Today, Let’s Celebrate Our Countries’ “Ongoing Struggles for Freedom…”

“On this 4th of July, the rest of us - and our wealthy white male allies - should be celebrating our ongoing struggles for freedom and not celebrating as if we are free.” - Ibram X Kendi in The Atlantic, July 4th, 2019.

Today, celebrate freedom. Wave the sparklers in your mask, pop the pop-rockets from 6’ away, and safely set-off the fireworks. But do so celebrating the “ongoing struggles for freedom” instead of celebrating as if we are free”.

How do we do that?

Eat red, white, and blue desserts. But do it while writing a letter to Captain Vanessa Wilson of the Aurora, CO Police Department - 13347 E Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80045 - to demand justice by firing the remaining police officers and arresting all three cops & the two EMT’s who killed Elijah McClain.

On the way to your socially-distanced BBQ, call and leave a message for Attorney General Daniel Cameron at 502-696-5300 to pressure him to bring charges against the cops who murdered Breonna Taylor.

While you’re watching the burgers on the grill, pull out your phone and sign a petition demanding justice for Tony McDade.

Instead of singing or listening to the problematic-at-best Star-Spangled Banner, with racist 3rd -verse lyrics, of which Francis Scott Key biographer Marc Leepson says …

“To me, that’s Key reacting as a slave owner…At the very least, these are not the sentiments of a man who has warm feelings about slaves or enslaved people and those who flew to the side of the British.

…consider watching or reading the Frederick Douglass writing above, or listening to a Juneteenth Playlist on Spotify, like the one found here.

Here’s the net: REIMAGINE INDEPENDENCE DAY BY TAKING ACTION TO REIMAGINE AMERICA.

Even if it’s reflecting on how it could be different, that’s the beginning. Take a moment to learn, to listen, to be present. Take time to be an advocate for change, to create that world we can all be free.

Don’t forget to sign up for text-message reminders on TAKE A KNEE | TAKE A STAND, where we can help you with things to learn, actions to take, and organizations to support to end racism.

Oh, and also, don’t forget to wear a mask.

Good ActionJason KennedyJuly 4, 2020breonna taylor, frederick douglass, Black Lives Matter, tony mcdade, elijah mcclain, aurora co pd

TAKE A KNEE | TAKE A STAND

An act of Solidarity | The actions to Support It

BLACK LIVES MATTER.

If you disagree with that statement, please let me know, and I will make it take time to have a conversation with you as to why that statement is true, now, always.

YOU CAN TEXT ME AT (310) 359-0438

I’d love to take a few moments to help you understand how I, as a white man of privilege, have learned to understand the vital importance of ending racism, ending police brutality, getting justice for the - and preventing yet another - murder of Black Americans and LatinX Americans and immigrants living in this country. And I’d be grateful to help you start on your journey of growing into anti-racism.

In an effort to help White and Non-Black POC better understand the oppression felt by and the fight led by Black, Indigenous Persons of Color (BIPOC), and in light of recent amplification of 401 years of systemic racism, white supremacy, and murder, a group of us have created the portal/platform TAKE A KNEE | TAKE A STAND.

Endorsed by The Gathering for Justice, and built with guidance from Black voices both in and out of the movement, the site encourages people to #TakeAKnee - reflecting in solidarity to honor Black voices and to remember the lives of those lost to racism and police brutality, and #TakeAStand, getting into action to make daily efforts to end racism, police brutality, and violence & bias.

#TakeAStand is how we provide visitors to the platform the opportunity to get into action, categorizing the plethora of actions, organizations, literature, podcasts, articles and opportunities to create change from the leaders in large-scale and grassroots Black-led and Ally-led organizations. From The Gathering for Justice, Black Lives Matter and Until Freedom, Tamika Mallory’s organization, to The Okra Project for the Black Trans Community to books by Ibram X. Kendi and Jennifer L. Eberhardt, we believe this portal is a great start to a resource for people who want to take action, and perhaps don’t know where to turn.

Our social media campaign encourages people to reflect for 8:46 while taking a knee, in honor of George Floyd. Then take a picture of your action, posting it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, and comment or include the specific actions you’re taking to end racism, tagging @takeakneetakeastand, and including #TakeaKneeTakeaStand as a hashtag.

And because this is about the movement, not just the moment, and we’re in it for the marathon, not just the mile, we provide accountability in the form of text-message reminders, with daily or weekly reminders to take action to grow into anti-racism and demand change in your world and in the world. You can even challenge your friends to take part in your journey.

So please take a moment and take a look, then #TakeAKnee and #TakeAStand

VISIT TAKE A KNEE | TAKE A STAND

Good ActionJason KennedyJune 25, 2020social justice, Civil Rights, The Gathering for Justice, Until Freedom, Black Lives Matter, The Okra Project, Take a Knee Take a Stand, activism, activist, Make Change

PRODUCTION: Many Rivers to Cross: A Festival of Music, Arts & Justice

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Many Rivers to Cross was a social justice music and arts festival ideated by the iconic Harry Belafonte and Sankofa.org, the organization designed to carry on his legacy. I was brought on by Belafonte and Sankofa.org to activate the social justice aspects of the festival, work with the PR and marketing teams, help oversee sponsor activations and solicit opportunities, and work with the on-the-ground production teams. I also created and produced the Many Rivers Town Hall in conjunction with and launching the festival, which was a panel that included performing artist TIP, and where Mr. Belafonte received a “key to the city” by then-mayor Kasim Reed