On May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, a white police officer placed his knee on George Floyd's neck and suffocated him as onlookers screamed "Stop, you're killing him," and recorded video. 

Many Black people viewed the murder as a moment of truth. They thought surely this cold-blooded murder could not be ignored. Change must surely come. But, has it? 

Changes in personnel and police procedures in Minneapolis did occur. Attempts were made to engage the public in administrative decisions as well as on a local level in their own communities. Advanced police training became mandatory, and some improvements did take place.

But, George Floyd's uncle, Selwyn Jones, and aunt, Angela Harrelson told a news station reporter it was not enough. “When we get to the point with all of this, where we don’t have to say the words Black Lives Matter, then that’s when we know we have arrived,” Harrelson said.

The Rise and Remember memorial on May 25, 2026 was not a just a somber remembrance of George Floyd's murder, but it was also a celebration of community and life. It was hope for a future not yet achieved.

 “Today is not just about remembering George Floyd, it is about remembering what his life and his death revealed to the world,” said Ruth Anna Buffalo, president of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, told attendees from the stage. “Years later, many of our communities are still carrying grief, trauma, fear and exhaustion. But we are still, we are still here.”

Yes, change did come after a white police officer callously snuffed out the life of a Black man for all the world to see. But, as the current administration works to erode the civil and human rights of Black citizens as well as other people of color, women and others, there is so much more to do. 

The recently completed Artemis II mission marked the first time since December 1972 that humans flew to the moon.  The history-making journey not only set a record for the farthest distance humans traveled in space, but it also marked the first time a Black astronaut, Victor Glover, Jr., took part in a moon mission. ​

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy gave NASA a push - choose qualified African American candidates for the astronaut trainee program. A strong proponent of space travel, Kennedy knew that the program would most likely stay white if not pushed. Prodded by the administration, NASA chose Ed Dwight Jr. as the first Black  trainee. 

Unsurprisingly, Dwight was not selected to move on into the elite astronaut program. His selection into the training program, however, garnered national attention and he became not only a symbol of progress, but also a role model for younger generations of aspiring Black astronauts. 

At the time of Dwight's selection, Huntsville, Alabama, the location of NASA's headquarters, was segregated. Black people still couldn't use "white" bathrooms or drinking fountains. So it was no surprise that the first Black trainee didn't make it into the program. It took more than 20 years before a Black astronaut finally went to space. 

NASA astronaut Group 8, formed in 1978, was the first to include women and minorities. Five years later, in August 1983, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., became the first Black astronaut to travel into space. 

Mae Jemison was the first Black woman in space in 1992, and Bernard Harris, Jr. became the first Black astronaut to perform a space walk in 1993. And although, Victor Glover's name is widely known now because of  his latest achievement, he was also the first Black astronaut to do an extended stay on the International Space Station. 

The Artemis II mission was a unifying moment in a country with rare moments of unity of late. It was also a defining moment for not only Black Americans, but a lesson in what we can achieve if we all work together.

Resources:
Victor Glover, Jr.: NASA Astronaut & U.S. Navy Captain official NASA page​
Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History & Culture: African American Achievement at NASA 

Jesse Jackson, who died on February 17, 2026, left behind a legacy of firsts.  A civil rights leader who broke boundaries and forced change, he ran for president of the United States twice. He didn't get the nomination either time, but when the photo of Jackson with tears running down his face after Barack Obama was first elected became public, it became an iconic symbol of how much that moment meant to Jackson and those for whom he'd fought. 

Jackson was a flawed human being. So are we. But perhaps his greatest legacy is that throughout his life, he insisted that America meant everyone, not a select few.  He set the tone for what it means to be American throughout his life and taught us how to incorporate those ideals into a political ideology that put social justice at the forefront.

Again, our country is in a struggle with what it means to be American. As a nation of immigrants, most of us are appalled by what's happening right now. Jesse Jackson is gone, but we need to stand up and continue fighting for the marginalized, the disadvantaged, and all of the people in our country who are part of this quilt we call America.

Thank you for your service, Rev. Jesse Jackson. May you rest in peace. 

Resources:
Robert Reich: What you can do now
The ACLU: How to fight back on abuses of power
The RPC: The Rainbow PUSH Coalition: The international human and civil rights organization founded by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. RPC seeks to empower people through the effective use of grassroots advocacy, issue orientation, and connections between the greater community and the disenfranchised.

Guest post by Kristine Collins Schwartzman

On December 7, 1941, Mess Attendant Doris "Dorie" Miller, stationed in Pearl Harbor aboard the USS West Virginia, was taking care of the laundry. 

As a Black man in the Navy, his job, as was the job of any Black man in the Navy at the time, was to "serve" the white officers in support roles, handling the cleaning, laundry and kitchen duties. He received no weapons or combat training. He'd never shot a gun.

But, as the first torpedoes hit the ship and chaos erupted, Miller moved the ship's fatally injured captain off the ship's bridge and into shelter. A white officer ordered him to find ammo so he could use one of two nearby anti-aircraft guns. Miller did so, but he also loaded the second anti-aircraft gun and began firing at enemy aircraft alongside the white officer. He and the officer fired until they ran out of ammo.

Miller then concentrated on getting the wounded to safety. Finally, he and the survivors were forced to abandon ship as it sank into the ocean. Doris Miller, a Black sailor subjugated to a supporting role, saved the lives of many that day. 

No official recognition of Doris Miller's bravery came until months later, when the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper broke the story, identifying Black Messmen Doris Miller as a hero. And then the internal debates began. 

Should the U.S. Navy give the same accolades to a Black sailor they would routinely have given a white one? The story was out. There wasn't much else the military could do.

In May 1942, Miller received the Navy Cross from Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Miller was the first Black sailor to receive the honor. 

The Navy used Miller's image for recruitment posters and recalled Miller to the U.S. to make a war bond tour. His speeches inspired the recruitment of new sailors, particularly within Black communities. 

Doris Miller returned to active duty on the USS Liscome Bay, and on November 24, 1942, a torpedo hit the ship, and Miller was presumed dead. His body was never found. He was 24 years old. 

Miller left behind a legacy that went well beyond his short life. Before the Navy's recognition of his heroism, Black soldiers were not allowed to become officers. After Miller's death, the Navy began a training program for Black officers. The first were commissioned in March 1944.

The Navy remained segregated, but Miller's heroism and subsequent recognition was the first step toward equality that began with the initiation of the Black officers program, followed by the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s and finally, the desegregation of the military. 

Miller began life as a sharecropper's son in Waco, Texas, in 1919. But, his courage in the face of hardship and bigotry, is a lesson for us all.  

“Doris Miller stood for everything that is good about our nation, and his story continues to be remembered and repeated wherever our people continue the watch today.” -- Former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly

Sources:
Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson, December 6, 2025
The Unforeseen Legacy of Doris Miller

The election on November 4, 2025, was the first test of how voters feel about the current regime's actions and policies since gaining power. In no uncertain terms, voters rejected the racism, sexism and run up to fascism of this administration.

Black women led the charge. They voted for women, Black and white, they voted for progress, and they voted for change. They voted in large numbers. And they made history. 

Detroit voters not only elected their first female mayor, but Mary Sheffield, mayor-elect, is the youngest Black woman ever elected as mayor in a major city. Meanwhile, Syracuse, New York elected its first Black mayor, Sharon Owens. Dorcey Applyrs became Albany's next mayor in a landslide. Black women were also instrumental in electing the first female governors in both Virginia and New Jersey. 

In one of the most polarizing elections of 2025, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim and of South Asian descent, won a stunning victory against the "establishment" to become New York City's mayor. 

Even in small elections, such as those for school board's across the country, Democrats took seats in large numbers. Clearly, voters rejected the current regime's agenda, and the smack down was due in large part to Black women voters. 

Sources:

• Black Women Lead Historic Democratic Sweep in 2025 Election
• Mary Sheffield Makes History
• Black voters are architects of Democratic victories

Dear Readers:

Grandfather's Gift began as a way to tell the true story of Nancy Jean's great-grandmother, Nancy Kendall, and her experiences as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Since then, we have expanded our focus to include much of the history of racial discrimination throughout the years, down to the present day. 

It's no secret that this project is written and administered by two white women. We've done our best to talk about difficult issues of racial discrimination, but we have no illusions that we know what it's like to be Black in America. 

We don't know what it feels like to fear for our lives during a routine traffic stop. We don't know what it means to be sitting in our own homes and then shot. We don't know what it means to be a Black mental health professional who goes to the aid of a white patient, and then is shot by police. It's unfathomable to most of us white Americans, but a fact of life for Black and brown people in this country. 

We can't truly know what it's like for people of color to have to hide in their homes because they fear being pulled into police custody and deported, or watch as their families are ripped apart. We sit in privilege. 

History was made on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The No Kings rally became the largest mass protest ever in the U.S. People protested for a host of different reasons, including the loss of voting and civil rights, the despicable treatment of immigrants, loss of protections for LGBTQIA+ communities, and the undermining of women's autonomy as guardians over their own bodies. Peaceful marchers came out in mass to draw attention to and object to what is happening in America. 

What you did not see in the crowds on Saturday were a lot of people of color. And, with good reason. Black and brown people have targets on their backs. Coming together in large numbers is too risky. ICE is real, police brutality is real. It's one thing to protest and risk arrest if you are white. It's quite another for a person of color. 

So, white Americans - it's up to us. As long as our immigrant, Black and marginalized communities suffer, so do we. We have to stand up and take a stand. Our risk is marginal. We have to be there for others in our communities, and on the larger stage. 

​Here are a few ways to make our voices heard and help those targeted by this administration:
​

• Join marches & protests. Stay peaceful and do not engage with hecklers.
• Encourage others to vote in every single election, including midterms. Local elections are extremely important.
• Protect your neighbors. If you see the police engaging with a person of color, you have a First Amendment Right to record what is happening. Without endangering yourself, get close enough to the situation to hear what is going on. Use your phone to record the incident. If an officer asks what you are doing, tell them you are there to observe and lend support. A watched police encounter is less likely to become volatile, although, we know that's not a given. Several people recorded George Floyd's murder, screamed at the officer to stop, and tried to intervene to no avail. The police officer who murdered Floyd was convicted largely because of those witnesses and recordings, however.
• Place yard signs on your lawn. I have two right now. One says "Hands Off," the other says "No Kings." I live in a small, rural, very red town. People driving by have actually stopped and told me how much they appreciate me putting signs out. They are afraid to do it, but knowing someone else thinks like they do makes them feel less alone.
• Write letters to the editor. Use facts and concise, measured arguments.
• Boycott advertisers who support the current regime. As of this writing, a few examples of companies enabling this administration include Amazon, Home Depot, and Walmart.
• Be there for members of your community. Whatever their political views, when they need help after a job loss, or just to make ends meet, offer help either directly or through local food pantry groups. 
• Donate to groups like the ACLU, and civil rights group that do the legal work, as well as groups that feed the hungry and provide shelter and necessities for those in need.
• Be always ready to respectfully engage when talking to others about what is happening.
• Stay hopeful. And, joyful. If there was one thing about the protests on Saturday that stood out, it was the fact that they were filled with joy. Inflatable costumes - we had a penguin, a pink pig, a lot of bananas, a T. rex, a frog, and others at the event in Erie, PA  - displayed the playful spirit of protestors. There were songs, chants and lots of laughs. 
• Take care of yourself. Don't let the bad stuff take over. Enjoy game night, celebrate the birthdays, live, laugh, and love. 

​Together, we will get through this, and make our country a better place for everyone. 

Thank you for being here!

--Kristine & Nancy Jean

Resources: 
What Should We Do Now? - Robert Reich
10 effective things citizens can do to make change in addition to attending a protest - The Conversation

Mr. Rogers and Officer Clemmons soaking their feet together in the kiddie pool on a hot day is as familiar as it gets. That remarkable scene came at a critical time in the nation's history. Mr. Roger's Neighborhood showed children that kindness, getting along, and tolerance made the world a better place. 

Much has been written about Fred Rogers, that pivotal moment and his legacy, but the Black man behind Officer Clemmons takes center stage in his memoir, "Officer Clemmons: More Than a Song," by François S. Clemmons. 

Clemmons is an actor, singer, writer and teacher who became director of his church's choir when he was just 10 years old. He began by singing spirituals from pre-Civil War days, handed down to him by his mother. He went to college and earned music and fine arts degrees from Oberlin and Carnegie Mellon. He sang opera at the Metropolitan in Cleveland. And, of course, he appeared in a recurring role as Officer Clemmons in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood from 1968 to 1993. 

If it sounds like the perfect life, Clemmons' memoir blows that idea out of the water. Growing up a Black man was difficult enough. Growing up a gay Black man was even harder. 

A chance meeting with Fred Rogers at a Pittsburgh church opened the door. The two hit it off and Rogers offered Clemmons the recurring part of Officer in the Neighborhood. A Black man playing a cop brought up all kinds of conflicting emotions for Clemmons. But Rogers made an impression and, over time, their relationship grew into a long-term friendship. 

Did Fred Rogers know about Clemmons' sexuality? He did. It did not stop him from featuring Officer Clemmons or forming a friendship. It did make him offer the conventional advice of the times, though. "Get married. Have a family." Clemmons did marry. Not surprisingly, the marriage didn't last. 

As Nicholas Cannariato of NPR says in his review of Clemmons' memoir, "... the show wasn't Clemmons' story — this memoir is. In the book, he doesn't ask you to be his neighbor, but rather just to hear his story: One of a man of profound strength and talent who stood up, sang out, and, after great struggle, was heard."

As the current administration seeks to erase Black history, gut civil rights, and dismantle life-saving services, Black women lawmakers and leaders are among the loudest voices in raising the alarm and holding the administration accountable.

Challenging executive orders, and standing firm, these outspoken Black women include the following:

Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-CA): Representative Simon delivered a rebuttal to the current regime leader's speech in early 2025, where she warned that the mass firings and shut down of critical services would make the nation both "sicker" and "poorer."

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-CA): An outspoken activist who not only fights back verbally, but shows up at rallies, as well as prison camps, to draw attention to civil rights violations.

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY): As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Clarke is loud and clear about her commitment to opposing current policies and confronting the administration whether it's "in the chambers of the House of Representatives or on the streets of America."

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA): After the disappointment of the election, Lee urged Black women in Congress to continue to fight, remembering they aren't just fighting for themselves, but for the future. 

Aimee Allison, She the People Founder: Citing Rep. Simon and Rep. Crockett as role models, Allison pointed out that after the election, Democrats were in a tailspin, but Black women in Congress were ready to meet the moment. “It’s the role that we have played historically, and we’re meeting the moment in a way a lot of other people won’t or can’t,” Allison said.

Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: Serving in a conservative Supreme Court, Associate Justice Jackson's dissent of a court decision to allow the administration to drastically reduce the size of the federal government was a scathing rebuke both to the court, and the regime. Unafraid to confront the powers that be, Jackson recently stated, that "the state of our democracy" is what keeps her up at night. "I'm not afraid to use my voice," she said.

Large scale country-wide protests, such as the "Hands Off" and "No Kings" rallies were attended by largely white crowds, but Black activists have continued to work behind the scenes in other ways. Using boycotts, "State of the People" around the nation tours, and similar activities, Black activists are, like everyone else, still figuring out ways to resist the regime in these unprecedented times. 

According to Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Black women’s roles now must be “very targeted, very pinpointed, because we are in a crisis unlike anything we have seen in modern history for Black women.”

Juneteenth celebrations still rang out across the country in 2025. But, this year was different. There weren't as many. Some were subdued. Others were canceled. The change was palpable. And, it was far-reaching. 

It's easy to say, as many officials did, that safety was the issue. If the threat of violence is real and security is the problem, what happened? How did we get here? Why is this year different?

The political climate has clearly changed. Diversity, equity and inclusive (DEI) initiatives across the country have been gutted and defunded. DEI programs, on the federal and state levels and in the public sector, were meant to level the playing field and provide needed support so that every person regardless of color, gender, sexual preference or disability has the opportunity to thrive.

DEI programs have long been targeted by a segment of the population that portrayed them as anti-white, a sort of reverse discrimination claim. And, unfortunately, it is that idea that currently controls the government in the US. Federal DEI programs have been obliterated and the pressure on corporate entities, states, and educational institutions to eliminate initiatives has been relentless. Many have capitulated.

What does DEI have to do with Juneteenth? Federal DEI grants funded many celebrations. When the federal government under the current regime unceremoniously yanked those grants, events already planned fell by the wayside.

Black organizers also voluntarily, albeit reluctantly, canceled or moved events to smaller venues. One of the reasons often stated was the fear of a violent backlash. That leads us back to where we started - they canceled because of security issues. What should be a celebration of freedom, remembrance and joy is now tainted by fear. 

“What we’re seeing – businesses pulling back and universities canceling programs in response to attacks on DEI – shows that many institutions and corporations were never truly committed to diversity and inclusion,” said LaTasha Levy, a professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, DC. “We’re not even being honest about what DEI really stands for.”

It seems that every step forward is two steps back. Equality and equity for all Americans, is not a given. It's never a win. It's always work. And, it's worth fighting for. 

Resources: 
​How cities are scaling back Juneteenth celebrations after Trump-era DEI rollbacks

No longer looking for votes, Trump changes his tune about the Juneteenth holiday

Freedom Day for All Americans

Celebrate Juneteenth - Why & How