44 percent: Liberty City bookstore opens on Juneteenth, Black dentists
When Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 at the wishes of Opal Lee, a retired teacher and activist in Marshall, Texas, I worried it would become too commodified. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.
And four years later, here we are: the catered events that aren't free for the community and the sales offered by corporate entities selling fashions that don't bear the colors of the Juneteenth flag — red, white and blue (because it's ours, too)— among other things, are on full display.
It is tough to see a holiday centered around Black liberation become so commercialized, and in a sense lose the meaning intended for it in less than half a decade. It's disheartening, but I'm reminded of why the Roots Bookstore & Marketplace exists and why it's necessary: to serve the community. It gives me hope for what could be on a holiday in which it feels like dividends over people are prioritized.
However you decide to celebrate your Juneteenth, I hope you keep Black communities in mind when doing so. Also, it's OK to do nothing for Juneteenth and take the time to use it as a reset for your mind and body.
INSIDE THE 305:
On Juneteenth, their dream of bringing a bookstore to Liberty City becomes reality
I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek inside the Roots Bookstore & Market, the brainchild of the late Danny Agnew, his brother Phillip and their friend Isaiah Thomas, before it opened, and it is for us. From Black classics from Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou to Black erotica from authors such as Zane and Eric Jerome Dickey novels and the ambiance of jazz, hip-hop and R&B floating in the space, this is for us.
'We're not monolithic:' Nia Long, Larenz Tate reflect on Love Jones, Black films
It was such a joy to hear the lively conversation and witness the magnetic chemistry between Nia Long and Larenz Tate, co-stars of the iconic '90s classic film 'Love Jones' at the American Black Film Festival. The two sat down with Access Hollywood's Scott Evans, discussing their bond, the chemistry behind the iconic film, some of the challenges they faced and the importance of showcasing Black love on screen. Above all what was clear from both of them was Black films should highlight the breadth of our culture: 'We're not monolithic,' Tate said. 'We have a story to tell.'
Less than 4% of dentists are Black. This South Florida family wants to change that
I'd been following the Phanord family on Instagram, contemplating them as potential dentists when I first moved to South Florida. My colleague Michael Butler wrote a wonderful profile on the family's legacy and why it's essential for them to continue it.
Roger Phanord and his twin sons, Kyle and Kevin, are now practicing together at North Miami's Phanord and Associates, a dental clinic with 12,000 active patients, a number Roger says is uncommonly high for a general practice, Butler reports. The three men are part of a small fraction of Black dentists in America, who make up less than 4% of all dentists in the U.S. Through mentorship, the family seeks to increase that number and help diversify their industry.
OUTSIDE THE 305:
Marla Gibbs Announces Memoir 'It's Never Too Late'
Beloved actress Marla Gibbs is finally releasing her memoir 'It's Never Too Late.' People magazine reported. Gibbs, who is 94 years young, is known for her roles as Florence in 'The Jeffersons' and Mary in '227.'
HIGH CULTURE:
Juneteenth celebrations in Broward, Miami-Dade
Should you choose to celebrate Juneteenth outside the confines of your home, the Herald has compiled a few events for your choosing, which vary from free to paid. No matter what you do, have a safe and joyful Juneteenth.
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Hundreds crowd Chester County Historical Society in Pennsylvania for a powerful Juneteenth reenactment
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Juneteenth celebrations brings in thousands to Oakland Museum
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Juneteenth Block party at African American Museum in Philadelphia ends early due to severe weather
The Juneteenth Block Party at the African American Museum in Philadelphia was forced to end early Thursday due to severe weather. The holiday celebration was temporarily paused for roughly 30 minutes around 3 p.m. and patrons returned before another round of storms cancelled the event entirely. Before the severe weather, about 1,000 people showed up at the block party to celebrate the holiday. It was a showcase of unity with people from all walks of life in attendance. "It's awesome to see our people and everybody come together for a common cause," said Chris Nelson from Morton. "During this political climate, where there's a lot of divisiveness, an event like [this] highlights the history of [Juneteenth] and also brings us together as a people. The importance of togetherness, the importance of us having the opportunity to share music," said Dr. Kendrah Butler-Waters from Glenside. The celebration included vendors of all kinds, food trucks and interactive activities for kids. It also featured several performances that ended with a set from DJ Drama. More artists were scheduled to perform, but never took the stage because of the storms. Ameerah K was one of the vendors at the celebration. She is an artist whose work is inspired by Black entertainers. She said it was important for her to be a part of the event. "It's important that we continue to embrace events like this that celebrate diversity and celebrate just how unique the history of Black people are and how far we've come," she said. As part of the Juneteenth celebration, admission to the African American Museum was also free. Arcina Henry stood in the long line of people waiting to get in. She said she believes the day is worth celebrating, but she also believes it should be a day of reflection to learn from the past. "A lot of times with our culture, we don't know as much about ourselves as we should. This is a holiday that we should have been celebrating years ago, but we were not aware of it. Now that we've come into the light, we have to make it what it needs to be and we have to continue to spread the word and the significance of Juneteenth," Henry said.
