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Blog archive

December 2024

November 2024

Event of Remembrance
11/22/2024

Phishing Scams: What You Need to Know
11/22/2024

Pupusas Family Style: Another Adventurous Dining Winner
11/22/2024

Celebrating the Holidays
11/21/2024

Genealogy Group: Discovering Our Pasts
11/21/2024

Nathan Wolford – From Tragedy to Ministry
11/21/2024

Pasadena Village Board of Directors: A Brief Overview
11/21/2024

President's Message
11/21/2024

The Day of the Dead (Dia de muertos)/ Mexican Culture/Community
11/21/2024

Vintage Celebration: Aging Like a Fine Wine
11/21/2024

Review of Racism in Our Local Past
11/20/2024

Creative Juices Flow in The Village
11/19/2024

Checking In by Ed Rinderle
11/15/2024

Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
11/15/2024

I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear (Sonnet IV) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
11/15/2024

Pictures From Brueghel by William Carlos Williams
11/15/2024

October 2024

ARBORIST WALK: NOT FOR TREE HUGGERS ONLY!
10/29/2024

Bill Wishner: Visual Hunter
10/29/2024

Can a Village Group Fix Our Healthcare System?
10/29/2024

Community Board Directors Strengthen Village Board
10/29/2024

Connecting with Village Connections: The A, B, C, & D’s of Medicare @ 65+
10/29/2024

Grief is a Journey: Two Paths Taken
10/29/2024

Message from the President
10/29/2024

Promoting Informed & Involved Voters
10/29/2024

What Will Be Your Legacy?
10/29/2024

1619, Approaching the Election...
10/27/2024

Beyond and Within the Village - A Star is Born
10/17/2024

Happiness by Priscilla Leonard
10/11/2024

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
10/11/2024

Unpainted Door by Louise Gluck
10/11/2024

In the Evening by Billy Collins
10/10/2024

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
10/10/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

Juneteenth Reflections

By Richard Myers
Posted: 06/24/2024
Tags: history, current events, holiday

Notes taken by Sharon Jarrett:

The 1619, Lingering Imprint Discussion Group met on June 21st at 12:00 PM PST.  There was no formal Agenda or presentation.  Dick Myers began by asking the participants about their experience with Juneteenth.

Participants had mixed emotions:

*   one person was concerned about how the holiday was being commercialized.

  •  another expressed having a negative experience and feeling used.
  •  

This was followed by the question, “Did you celebrate this holiday growing up"

 *   a participant indicated the holiday had been the impetus to investigate her family.  She discovered she was descended from ensiled and free who had purchased their freedom.  The family was originally from Mobile, Alabama.  The family members were Catholic and she was aided in her research by church records.

 

This led to a discussion of the Kilby Cousins and the research they used to discover family members.

*   the role of the program Coming to the Table sponsored by the Mennonite Church was discussed.

  •  in the end, it was agreed that there were positive and negative aspects to the celebration. Indicating any ,movement toward full non revisionist history is a positive.
  •  

The group next discussed slavery in California.  California was admitted to the union as a non slave state.   However, in practice slaves were permitted in the state if purchased prior to entering the state. It is estimated that one third of the African Americans in the state in 1850 were enslaved.  The role of African American labor during the Gold Rush was discussed. In addition a number of significant people and events were discussed including: Stagecoach Mary, the 8 second rodeo, the recent merging of the Negro League statistics into Major League Baseball records.

 

A participant joining from Oregon shared that Oregon was admitted as a free state.  However, state laws were enacted which forced African Americans citizens out of the state. 

The role of Secret Societies in shaping communities was discussed.  

 

These books were discussed:

  • Poverty by America.       Matthew Desmond
  • Before the Mayflower.    Lerone Bennett.    1962
  • Democracy Awakening.  Heather Cox Richardson
  • What went Wrong with Capitalism?     Ruchir Sharma
  •  

These books can be purchased through Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.

 

 Also, another member has contributed “ Expert Breaks Down History of Juneteenth,” where CNN's Victor Blackwell speaks with African American Museum of History and Culture curator Mary Elliot on the history and significance of Juneteenth.

 

 The meeting concluded at 1:30 PM PST.  The next meeting will be June 5th at 10:00 AM PST. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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