• Developing a voice •
[2 MIN READ]
On Monday, the 19th of June 2023, I woke up feeling compelled to reach out to a few close Black friends by saying Happy Juneteenth. One, a mere day before on Sunday had texted me a warm Happy Father’s Day greeting. Another had sent me a considerate Happy Chinese New Year greeting earlier in the year.
From my end, I’ve always wanted to say more than just what everyone else can say. To a fault, I’ve striven to a slightly higher level of thoughtfulness, particularly when the number of greetings can potentially be high. It’s the reason why I took my birthdate off of Facebook. I got tired of dozens of people saying exactly the same thing. You might as well just say, “Ditto #42.” It would feel equally heartfelt.
I didn’t just want to say more with a “Happy Juneteenth” greeting, I also wanted to do more.
Thankfully, my workplace has done an admirable job of advancing anti-Black racism initiatives. Though I’ve had opportunities to be in solidarity with the Black community, I’m not such a great activist. As of this writing, I have not joined Chinatown Philadelphia’s No Sixers Arena marches and other efforts, even as someone who attends an ethnic Chinese church right in Chinatown where the city proposes to build it.
On the other hand, I was an active part of ABRI at my workplace after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. After I left my full-time role there, writing became an increasingly important activity in tandem with all the thinking that I’m wont to do. You only have to look at my running writing (CtCloser) to appreciate how much all of that can be.
These pages of iCandybyWangC are movement in a productive direction using a means I can wield with a measure of effectiveness. On this Juneteenth 2023, I offer what I can in the spirit of doing more than offering mere well wishes. As for my activism, writing hereby counts.
Next: A Juneteenth Greeting (2:3)
Updated: 2024’01’03’W (Sequential place in series)
Drafted: 2023’06’19’M
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