Today, on Juneteenth, a holiday that I ( sadly to admit ) just learned about this year - I want to share something I’ve learned about the black community - they love family, and they truly make everyone feel like family - @cocoandbreezy are serious when then said you could crash a cookout and leave w a plate.
I learned something that had a profound effect on me that I still talk about to this day.. in 2016 when I was pregnant w my first child in New York, there wasn’t a day that went by ( seriously! I kept track telling all the kind gestures to my husband ) that a black stranger did not congratulate me. Everyday black men, women, seniors and teenagers would hold doors for me, congratulate me, say how amazing I looked, and smile. I would tell my friends and then wouldn’t believe me and I’d say let’s go walk, grab a coffee and see. It was really really incredible. I live in the west village and take the L train to Brooklyn everyday and it was shocking. I really don’t want to rant against other races, but really I was just typically ignored by everyone else, a handful were kind. On crowded trains, people would be just purposely staring at their phones ignoring my massive bump almost hitting them in their faces. One time a black senior woman ( probably in her 80s) tried to give me her seat “girl, I’ve been there! Come rest those feet!” - one teenage black kid hit their friends upside the head and shouted ‘give the lady some room!” It was the most eye-opening and incredible experience I’ve ever had from strangers in my life.
So cheers to all of you, celebrating Juneteenth today with your families. It’s been a tough year. Thank you for the kindness, respect, and pure joy that you have been raised to have for others. I love that, your Mother’s did so well. ❤️