1963 was a year for Civil Rights. As we know about the death of Medger Evers, the March on Washington, 16th Street Church Bombing, the founding of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, and today, marking the golden anniversary of the death of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Many of the Baby Boomers and some of the Greatest Generation do remember bibically of his death. But to those of us born after 1963, we don’t know except the history books. And viewing old archival videos of the news reports at museums and online.
What does also mean for this. What will Kennedy’s death of November 22nd, 1963 mean to us Generation X, Generation Y, Millenials, those of us who probably look and say, so? With the shrugs.
Dear US Americans who weren’t alive in 1963:
It’s me, Stephen. Yes that black blogger guy from Milwaukee.
Many of our older family members and friends and neighbors would answer the question: “Where were you when Kennedy was killed?” I’m sure many of you probably answered that notion in many ways. Many of you were probably the same age of those who were asked you the questions. But I think in asking the question is also seeking knowledge. Today many of us weren’t even around when Kennedy was shot to death. There were no social medias, no 24 hour news cycles, no smartphones, no other advanced use of Technology. No Arsenio, Melissa Harris-Perry, no other gains that externally reached African-Americans. But there were radios, and television sets that were the norm of information.
Yes, I like many other Americans, watched the tributes, the videos of the broadcasts when the announcements of President Kennedy’s Death was inserted during the newscasts. I’ve seen the footage of the Funeral, having the soldiers and his casket draped in the American Flag on the gun carriage with the horses leading it from the White House, to the U.S. Capitol and the final resting place of Arlington National Cemetery. The eternal flame still burns in his spirit that yes, we can do more giving back to America. Many of us have given back since 1963, and many of us haven’t. There are those of us who refused to give back in sense that yeah, I love America in all. There is a generation of us Americans never really cared about what happened in 1960’s. Don’t get me wrong, there are those of us in the Gen X, Y, Millennial that probably do recognize the work. And there are those that see the work, but probably won’t do it. Sort of like Social Responsibility, remember that Jay Z fans?
There has been this “thought” that President Kennedy had little knowledge or little reference about African-Americans and the struggle of the Civil Rights. I remember seeing the movie The Butler, and no I was not tripping! If you have seen the movie not to give it away, review the scene where Cecil Gaines talks to President Kennedy about his viewpoint of blacks and civil rights. And if you are one of those who STILL haven’t seen it, you better! That movie should be seen by all folks, not just black folks. And yes without the butler per say in a sense, I think JFK wouldn’t got the gist in spite of the Civil Rights Movement. On TheGrio Website, When I saw the movie, it was a point in that segment that I think that JFK was destined for change. A prime example in an exert from Rolling Stone Magazine in which the Vietnam War was a concern.
“It’s time for us to get out. The Vietnamese aren’t fighting for themselves. We’re the ones doing the fighting. After I come back from Texas, that’s going to change. There’s no reason for us to lose another man over there. Vietnam is not worth another American life.”
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/john-f-kennedys-vision-of-peace-20131120page=3#ixzz2lRdLCsTT
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In other words: JFK wanted the U.S. OUT of Vietnam. Literally. Apparently after November 22nd, 1963 that wasn’t the choice due to the Assassination in Dallas, and the handover of the presidency to Lyndon B. Johnson. Where as right now the option of getting the troops out of Afghanistan is still high. But now the decision has been reached to forge a partnership between the Afghan forces and U.S. Armed Forces to remain intact until 2024.
As of right now, 50 years have come and gone. But what about the next 50 years when the commemoration of JFK’s legacy is remembered for the 100th time since 1963? I know that the link of JFK to me is through Caroline Kennedy, the surviving sibling of JFK and Jackie O. JFK Jr has been deceased since 1999. And Senator Ted Kennedy served his term very well until his passing several years ago. Yes I realized that the Kennedy name is still out there. The next era of the Kennedy folks, to me must take up the slack of the family. Sort of like the legacy of Martin Luther King must be taken up with the King/Farris Family members currently. Even though their names aren’t known yet. And this is similar with the Jackson family. We know after Micheal passed, that was supposed to be the end per say. But what about his nephews? What about his children? They need their chance to shine up.
But for the Family of JFK, and the future, the torch that he talked about will be passed to the next players coming in. Even the ones, in his future family members. So we a those who have or will ask to do whatever for America, do this: start in your communities. Go back and help out your communities in terms of Employment, Health, Neighborhoods, and many other concerns that lingers on Americans. Resume your work, even though it’s a long haul, but still the help will come IF and ONLY IF you contribute or start up ideas! That way if possible that a dream of JFK, MLK and many others who wanted change without getting harmed, can definitely be a must!
Sincerely,
Stephen
Related articles
- Kennedy Assasination Still Resonates on 50th Anniversary (fox40.com)
- Why is the assassination of JFK such a significant historical event? (ool.co.uk)
- JFK assassination: Alistair Cooke’s dispatches for the Guardian (theguardian.com)
- Mark Santow: JFK, the Assassination, and the Avoidable Tragedy of Vietnam (huffingtonpost.com)
Be Thankful: 2013 Edition
Posted: November 28, 2013 in #blacktwitter, African American Stories and Viewpoints, Black America, Black stories that all should know and realize, Commentary by all means, Decision Factors, Fitness, Games, Holidays, Legends and Education, Life, Local, Midwest African American Commentary, My Special Commentary, Organizations, Sports, Technology, Wisconsin African American Commentary, ZodiacsTags: Active, Be Thankful, Milwaukee, NFL Football, Organizations and Groups, Small Business Saturday, Thanksgiving, United States, Wal-Mart
Well here we are again. While many are cooking, and football watching, and parade seeing, and or I hate to say, trying to get those Black Friday Deals, alerts or planning to go to the clubs and to shake off those calories, and many other turkey stuff, let’s pause to see what are we thankful for. And keep in mind, some of what I’m about to write is all positive. Been doing it since the MyFoxMilwaukee Blog days. Y’all remember them days!
If you have a good job, be thankful.
If you are active in your clubs or jobs, be thankful.
If you have a car that can get you to your job faster, be thankful.
If you don’t have a doctor YET, but still want to make an impression to get back to exercise and diets BEFORE seeing that doctor, be thankful that you can still care about your health.
If you volunteer your time out of your schedule, be thankful.
If you have been active with your family with all the difficulty, be thankful.
If you have a veteran to support in your life, be thankful.
If you support the troops, and staying active with their families, be thankful.
If you have decided to join the military, or a well known fraternity, sorority or well known organization that gives back, be thankful.
If you are member of Delta Sigma Theta, or Iota Phi Theta that has celebrated milestone years, be thankful!
And yes, if you are still active or support the NPHC, be thankful.
If you are getting help by trying to pay off your student loans that lingered you for so long, be thankful that someone wants to help to get your loans down.
If you have been approached by someone who wants to give you a job, be thankful.
If you have retired, be thankful.
If you own your own business without those bugging you, and you are successfull thus far, be thankful.
If you have attended a class reunion, be thankful that you went and got some ideas.
If your church has been flooded, and had to move where the folks are mostly, be thankful.
If your neighborhood has a good reputation of looking out for others, even in this 21st Century, be thankful.
If your house has been good on Thursday nights because of Scandal, and you let some folks in to watch, be thankful.
If your club or bar is hosting an After Thanksgiving dance off, be thankful.
If your store this weekend is part of the Small Business Saturday stuff, and you want to spend your money there than at Wal-Mart, be thankful.
If you met new family members in which you have talked so much about, be thankful.
If you got a new “volunteer promotion” be thankful.
If you had or will invite folks over for Football, be thankful that those don’t have TV’s can come over and watch out of love.
If you still do your talents and gifts of whatever, be thankful.
If your craft had to be upgraded for today’s standards, while educating the young bucks today, be thankful!
If you have been to the dentist or will go to the dentist, or will get checked up in any fashion as possible, be thankful that you might keep your teeth!
If you like what I’ve been saying on this blog, be thankful!
If you are from Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay or any part of Wisconsin that is feeling my blogs, I’m just thankful that you had checked in to see what I have to say. Even if it’s black related.
If you have visited 30 Americans in Milwaukee from this past summer and had the chance to see the different African-American exhibits, be thankful that you saw some fine art.
If you had the ability to create or pick up new ideas for your group or yourself, be thankful.
If you had or will register to vote for 2014 and beyond, be thankful.
If you had good interviews on the job, be thankful.
If you still fight for Civil Rights, and I mean REAL CIVIL RIGHTS, be thankful.
If you found a church home that you can grow with, be thankful.
If you believe that your city can be more improved with all the distractions, be thankful that you want to stay and help out to MAKE THAT CHANGE instead of moving out.
If you had moved out for better chances than the last city, be thankful that yes, you have to do what is best.
If you had family members, friends, neighbors, classmates, or close friends who recently passed this year and still miss them like crazy, be thankful that YOU can celebrate their lives by learning the lessons to move forward during this hard time of the year.
If you are in a relationship, or getting married, or got married to the one you love, no matter the race, no matter the sexual preference (LGBT) no matter the personality, be thankful. Gotta say that for a universal thing.
If you rep your Zodiac sign to the fullest, be thankful. Yes and it’s Sagittarius Season!
And……If you’re like me that is still single not looking to be taken, be thankful! Yeah I said it!
Finally, if you are one of those who work hard punching the clock, working hard everyday, getting credit, having the opportunity to showcase your talent, and getting recognized all year everyday, that is definitively saying BE THANKFUL!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!