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

Smallpox is a deadly disease, a highly contagious virus that disfigures most, and kills from 30% - 50% of its victims. Often, even those who recover suffer from lifelong afflictions related to the illness.

​Smallpox swept the country in the late 1700s, and was the catalyst for the first protective vaccine ever developed. It is the only disease declared eradicated by the World Health Organization.

​The vaccination's development is one of pride, but also shame.  Pride because the vaccine has officially eradicated smallpox. Shame, because the road to the vaccine came on the backs, or the arms, rather, of the enslaved. 

Dr. Edward Jenner is widely recognized as developing the first effective smallpox vaccine in 1796. But, his road to its development in the United States begins in 1716 when a slave named Onesimus "owned" by Cotton Mather, told Mather that he had smallpox at one time, and was cured of it. Onesimus described a long-used method to protect against the virus called variolation.

The procedure involved taking infected material from the blisters of the afflicted, and placing it in a cut on the arm of a healthy individual. The healthy person was then protected from the worst form of the virus. 

Those of us who don't wear tin hats recognize the process. A milder form of the virus was introduced into a healthy person's body, allowing the body's immune system to build antibodies to fight and turn the disease away when encountered. 

Mather widely publicized the procedure, which was met with both relief and fear. And, like today, proof that it worked was required. The road to that proof, as well as the vaccine's further development, depended on a group who had no say in the matter - slaves. 

Used as "property," slaves were the ideal guinea pigs. First, slaves were intentionally given the virus and then the inoculation to ensure efficacy. When the procedure proved beneficial, slaves became "vessels" for vaccine harvest. 

The Civil War became a killing field in more ways than one - smallpox reared its ugly head at a time when there was a shortage of vaccine material. Who better than the enslaved, or the newly emancipated living in refugee camps, to supply vaccine material? 

Medical officers on both sides infected enslaved or newly emancipated babies and children with smallpox in order to create the vaccine. Sometimes these living "vessels" were sent on ships in order to transport vaccine material to another location. One documented case is of a 9-year-old girl whose arm was the vaccine's "container."

Dr. Jenner's vaccine in 1796 used cowpox material to create the vaccine instead of actual smallpox matter. But, from Onesimus, who first explained the procedure to Mather, through the later ordeals of experimentation and inhumane practices, the development of the smallpox vaccine and slavery are forever entwined. 

Sources: 
Vaccine Voyages: Where Science Meets Slavery
Never Forget That Early Vaccines Came From Testing on Enslaved People
How a Boston African Slave Helped Fight a Smallpox Epidemic

After the April 5, 2025, "Hands-off" protest, a long-time friend and I chatted via text about the next scheduled rally. My friend is an American citizen, but came to the US as a child with her mother and brother from Central America. 

We texted back and forth about rallies and marches, and how exciting it was to be a part of a group of like-minded people, even for an introvert like me. We looked for the next protests in her area, and I told her she'd be so glad she went. 

Then she said, "But, you look white." And, that's when it hit me. No one would ever mistake me for a person of color. I have red hair, albeit much faded red hair these days, and freckles. Maybe I am not blonde and blue-eyed, but I'm about as white as they come. ICE would never arrest me with a throng of other people, and send me off to a hellhole prison in another country without due process. 

But, it could happen to her. 

To my utter dismay, that possibility had not even occurred to me. It's happening to people every day. Families are being torn apart, people have been deported "by mistake," with no recourse. American citizens as young as 2-years-old, and at least one child, an American, in the middle of cancer treatments have been taken. 

When I was at the April 5 rally, I remember noticing that nearly everyone there was white. It didn't make sense to me then, but it does now. Black people, and people of color, are targets. I'd always considered myself "woke," but there is no denying that my whiteness blinded me to one of the realities of so many in this country. 

My friend, if you're reading this - and I know you are - thank you. Thank you for giving me permission to talk about this moment, and for pointing out your truth. I love you.  

So, where does that leave us? To me, it means that those of us in this privileged class need to take on the greatest responsibility. It's up to us to keep protesting, writing letters, making calls, taking stands, and donating - whatever we can do within our personal circumstances.

It's up to us because we will never face the consequences that someone of color might face for standing up for what is right. 

As 2025 rolls on, hope is harder and harder to come by. The reality of life in the US has changed significantly, and chaos continues to ensue. 

Black folks in America and around the world know better than anyone how to keep going when it looks like all is lost. There are wins, but there are also losses. Many losses. Despair and powerlessness overwhelm us. But, we can take inspiration from Black activists, writers, and thought leaders past and present, as we look to the journey ahead. This is where we begin.