- This week, we turn to an
award-winning columnist who
covers a range of
African-American issues to
discuss Juneteenth.
It comes at a time when racial
justice is front and center.
Reggie Jackson is a senior
columnist for the Milwaukee
Independent and he joined us
earlier this week with his
insights.
Mr. Jackson, thank you so much
for being here.
- It's a pleasure. Thank you
for having me.
- So Juneteenth is a
celebration of the end
of official slavery.
This year, of
course, COVID stifles
the celebratory nature of it,
along with global
demonstrations against racism
and police brutality.
As to the protests, you have
said, "We have not
suddenly reached the breaking
point.
Each day is
a breaking point for us."
How so?
- You know, when we talk about
the things that are currently
occurring that, you know, the
world is paying attention
to, these are things that
those of us in the communities
of color, particularly
African-Americans, these are
things that we've experienced
for many, many years.
These are things that we talked
about, openly
complained about, asked for
reform about.
And so for us, this is nothing
new.
You know, the death
of George Floyd, which has kind
of galvanized people around the
world to protest
these. These are not new
occurrences for us.
This is, you know, every
day lived experiences
for people of color,
particularly blacks.
- You've also said this, "We
want change.
We are tired of being treated
like our lives are
inconsequential."
Describe the change
that you want.
- You know, we simply want what
every other American has.
We want our lives to be
valued in the same way
as the majority community has
been valued.
You know, I did a presentation
a number of years ago and
it was titled "Do Black Lives
Matter? The Historical
Devaluation of Black Lives in
American History." And there
are countless ways to
explain how our lives have not
been valued in the same way.
You know, the idea of race, the
concept of race was
created a couple hundred years
ago. And there was this
hierarchy that
put people based on their skin
color at different levels of
value. And for the most part,
black people have always been
at the bottom of that that
hierarchy.
And we're simply asking that
you don't do that any longer.
That we be treated the same as
everyone else.
That we'd be treated fairly,
equitably.
And it's not a difficult
ask, I don't think.
- What is your hope and
expectation about seeing
consequential change or
that change even
by the next Juneteenth Day
or even in our lifetimes?
- Well, you know, the difficult
thing is that change occurs
very slowly. In
many cases, it occurs at a pace
that we don't even notice.
And so it appears
that no change is occurring.
No progress
is being made.
But ultimately, I think the
the the answer to your question
is when we revisit
this year, this Juneteenth
a year from now, we'll
look back and we'll ask what
has really changed
in a consequential way?
You know, we know the protests
will be over.
We know that we'll go back to
business as usual as a nation.
But what will people do once
they stop protesting?
What will they do within their
institutions that they work in?
What will our elected officials
do to change the patterns
and practices of institutional
racism in our country?
Those are the things that we're
going to be paying very close
attention to, not just
the talk.
You know, a lot of people can
talk the talk, but will they be
willing to walk the walk.
- Do you feel as though at
this moment in time that
finally the voices
that have so long been decrying
white supremacy are
being heard?
- I think those voices, which
have been silenced for so long,
are being heard in a way that
they'd never been heard before.
And I think one of the
incredible things about it is
that there are other voices
that are joining the conversation,
saying the same things.
As I've been doing
work traveling around the
nation the last several years
in particular, I have noticed
a shift in the way white people
talk about racism.
There's been a shift in what
white people want to learn
about their history.
And they have willingly
admitted to me in many places,
small rural towns throughout
Wisconsin that I've traveled
to, that you know, racism
is a serious problem.
We've been afraid to talk about
it, but we want to talk about
it now. We want to learn how
we got to where we are so that
we can fix things.
And, you know, these are things
that communities of color have
been asking whites
to join us in that fight
for many, many years.
And we're beginning to see that
at a level we've never seen
before.
- Thank you. Thank you.
We're all glad to hear that.
And may we keep
moving forward.
Reggie Jackson, thank you so
much for joining us.
- Yes, my pleasure. Thank you
so much for having me.