2026 Juneteenth Banner Raising Event

No, no, no. >> Michael, >> we're going to do another photo on the sidewalk. >> Is it may not be able to >> 17 years ago. The Cage family. Edward Cage is here. Monica Cage, Vera Cage organized a family funday on the 19th of June. They engaged many people that they knew that are out here as well like the Tardikovs, Kathleen Anderson, Miss Padonabaku, and others. And this was held at Grath uh Park and it marked one of the first times in which folks had gathered uh that we're aware of that gathered in uh celebration and that was on Junth. Um it was advertised as a family fun day. Um my family I'm in I'm a Milcar Shabbaz. I came out to the event and met them there and was so gratified because I'd been living in Ammeris for a few years and um those years when we were in town for Junth uh we just you know celebrated at home. So it was the first time that there was a kind of more of a a public gathering that we were very accustomed to um was then taking place and uh and there started a process. Uh we started every year after that. We've held them in Grath Park. We've held it up here in Kendrick Park, which we dubbed Emancipation Park. We held uh several right out here on the Commons. We've met out here. Uh one year we went to um the um uh various venues around town. And last year we brought the celebration to the Monscior Lane Pastoral Center. That's the auditorium just behind St. Bridg's Church and that's where we'll be again this year on the 19th of June. The raising of a banner uh in this town, as I found out when I moved here almost 20 years ago, is a very important symbol, a very important symbol of uh of the town and a very important symbol to let the public know that something is happening that they ought to be a part of. Uh the last time that I was a part of a banner raising um it was we gathered right out here more than 100 people at noon for the dedication of a banner uh hung across South Pleasant Street at the Amoris Commons and the theme of that banner was Black Lives Matter. it was hung and um it was we had the apparent first in all of Massachusetts and that was the endorsement and the attendance at that banner raising of the Yammer's police chief. Uh myself and Edward Cage kind of coaxed him up right in the middle. He and he was there all in uniform right under that banner that said black lives matter and he put it he gave the black power salute right right along with us white power salute whatever you want to call it we were all together that day >> and many of you all were here for that um and we have to say we've not had any type of the tragedies that were going on like Trayvon Martin and like many others um we're not perfect town we had incidents on June July 5th that we had to kind of make an outcry about um where young people were um just outside and someone called about noise and and then it just erupted in ways that weren't right. You know, telling the youth that they have no rights. Uh uh you always have rights that this country is based on rights. Um and so it is in that regards that we continue to come out remind mind mindful of the past but also recognizing um our our our present day our struggles and and where we are going for the future. I just want to note that on September of 1862, the president at that time, a Republican in the White House, he wasn't a big fan of of UFC wrestling or anything like that, but his name was Abraham Lincoln, and he put forward a preliminary proclamation that said if the southern states did not cease their rebellion, which they had started in 1861. If they didn't cease their rebellion by the 1st of January 1863, then the proclamation would go into effect um in which all those who were enslaved would then be considered free. this uh the Confederacy did not yield and so on January 1st 1863 uh the proclamation went into effect declaring that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious states are and henceforward shall be free. Now, of course, a war was going on. So, the only places where that had any effect in rebellious in the rebellious states were when the troops were there. You know, I'm from Texas and I really get irritated when you get these people saying, "Well, they they never heard and and they didn't know and they were just, you know, those poor blacks in Texas just didn't know what was going on." No, they knew what was going on. They could hear. they could understand a war was going on. But the only place when it would take effect is when troops occupied. It's when the troops roll in that it then took effect. So the fact is that even though the treaty at Appamatics ended the conflict in most parts of the Confederacy, most parts of the United States that was in rebellion, the part that it did not take effect in was in Texas because they had no troops in Texas. But in June of 1865, soldiers showed up in Galveastston, Texas, which was then the largest city in all of Texas. Troops showed up and some of the troops included soldiers from Ammeris, Massachusetts. Some of their descendants live here today. Anika Lopes, Deborah Bridges that have right up on Cottage Street, ancestral bridges that make this history come alive for us. Soldiers that are on the the tablets, the marble tablets that are back in crates. They were on display for a while. If you didn't get to see them in the bank center, you missed out. But don't get scared. It's not good. They're not going to be in the crates for another 20 years like they were before Deborah and Ana got Gary and uh and Carly Tardikov and myself and Demetria to get on the case to get them out of the first of all to find out where the crates were cuz nobody knew and then to find out what the condition of the marble tablets were in the crates and then ultimately to bring them out and we brought them out in the in the Bang Center and they have been on display and they're due to go back on display when the Taj Mahal I mean Jones Library uh gets finished uh up here. They're going to be back on display. There's space inside the Taj Mahal for the marble tablets. So, we look forward to that. But with all that said, it's when the troops entered and the uh the general in charge of those troops was a man named uh Gordon Granger. And when he uh got there, he then issued a field order of his own. We should all know of the different field orders that these general u issue. They're very important. Um field order 15 said there were to be reparations. 40 acres and a mule. And um the field order in Galveastston at that time was general order number three. And this general order was read out by uh General Gordon Granger at the uh Ashton Villa in Galveastston and it went to the effect of the following. The people are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves and the connection here to forex existing between them become that between employer and hired labor. The freed are advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere. Now, that's kind of, you know, show you what they were preoccupied with, >> that black people were going to just stop working and and make it and and declare life was going to be a party from then on. They they don't like us partying, you know, that's America. They don't like us having a good time. They don't like us having a party. And so, uh, because the reality is people want to have lives and they know that requires work, that requires land, that requires growing food, that requires all of that. And they were ready for that. If only the reparations, if only Field Order 15 would have been carried out in Texas and my ancestors and others would have been able to have gotten the land to start their lives as free human beings that they were promised. Okay, so that's the general quick history of things and we all know that what the in the enslaved Africans did that were now the freed people is that they declared that day the 19th of June as their day. No work, didn't ma matter what day of the week it came on, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, th didn't matter. they were going to take that day off and a lot of times it would go into three-day and four day weekend and if you don't watch out it might be a whole week they'll take off. Okay, I'm working on a book on this. It's it's going to it's really kind of mindblowing to look at how they viewed it. And the celebrations were immense all from this time from 1866 1867 all the way down to the 1970s. I can remember in Texas the celebrations and in fact it was in 1970s that um the effort was made in the state legislature to make it a state holiday and they did and then from there it started moving out and it already moved out to many other places Oklahoma, Louisiana, neighboring states. it starts moving out west, west coast, wherever black people were started taking that day off. And the same way here, 17 years ago, we started doing it here. And when I say we, I want to acknowledge uh the Black Business Association of the Amorest area. I want to acknowledge Sanca Gumbo. uh and I want to acknowledge all of our various partners and sponsors for this upcoming uh uh event on Friday. But to begin with right now uh just to bring greeting to us, she will be speaking more on that day itself about the 10-year anniversary of the Black Business Association of the Amoris area. I invite to say a few words to us Miss Pat Onabaku. Oh, we got to go to the proclamation. Oh, so the town has also been an immense partner in this and bringing uh the uh proclamation from the town of Ammeris is the vice president of our town council uh Alicia Walker. [applause] >> Hi everyone. Um it's great to see you all here today. >> Closer closer to it. Is this better? >> Yes. >> Okay, great. Um, so I just wanted to report that this was passed unanimously by the Ammerst Town Council last night. Um, but it was sponsored by both myself and councelor Lord. Um, so whereas the Black Business Association of the Ammerst area celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026 as an organization dedicated to advancing black entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, leadership, and community development through Ammerst and the surrounding region. And whereas the BBAA was founded in 2016 through the vision, dedication and leadership of Patanabaku, Dr. Demetria Shabbaz and other commun committed community members who recognize the need to create a strong network of support, advocacy, and opportunity for blackowned businesses and black professionals in the Ammerst area. And whereas over the past decade, BBAAA has worked tirelessly to promote black economic development and entrepreneurship by connecting business owners to resources, providing mentorship and collaboration, increasing the visibility of blackowned businesses, and advocating for equitable opportunities that strengthen both individual enterprises and the broader community. And whereas the BBAA has played an important role in enriching the cultural and civic life of Ammerst by creating spaces for celebration, education, and connection that honor the history, achievements, and contributions of black people in our community. And whereas through its leadership and partnerships, the BBAA has helped establish and sustain meaningful community traditions, including its annual Junth Jubilee, which brings residents together in celebration of freedom, resilience, culture, and the continuing pursuit of justice and equality. And whereas the BBAA's work reflects an unwavering commitment to supporting economic opportunity, strengthening community relationships, uplifting future generations of entrepreneurs and leaders, and helping to create a more inclusive and welcoming Ammerst for all. And whereas the impact of BBAAA's founders, members, supporters, and community partners has extended far beyond business development, contributing to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of Ammerst and the Pioneer Valley. Now therefore, be it resolved that we, the Ammerst Town Council, hereby congratulate the Black Business Association of the Amoris area on the occasion of its 10th anniversary and express our sincere gratitude for a decade of leadership, advocacy, service, and dedication to black economic empowerment and community advancement. And be it further resolved, we the Ammersttown Council extend our appreciation to BBAAA's founders, members, partners, and supporters for their enduring contributions and offer our best wishes for the organization's continued success and impact for the years to come. >> Thank you so much, Alicia. We'll >> we very much receive that. Welcome that. We uh always display it at the event that we will have at St. Bridgets this Friday 3 p.m. Uh, Miss Pedon Nonabaku, come and tell us a little bit about the involvement of BBA and all of this and everything else. And I want to say it's the 10th anniversary, but all the way through those 17 years um with the Cage family, with the Shebaz family, we'd ask for food. She'd have food out there right under Did that tree get cut down where we had all the food or that one's still there? But all right, Miss Bon Nonabaku here. I'm just Yeah. That way she can put it up for her mouth. >> Yeah. >> You want to hold this one too? >> Sure. >> Good afternoon. Can people hear me? >> Yes. >> Is that loud enough? >> Yeah. >> Okay. First of all, I want to thank all of you for taking the time to come out for the banner raising ceremony. My name is Pat Ananbaku, a more than 40 years resident in Amst and the president for Black Business Association of Armist area. So, um I'm so happy to uh be involved in celebrating Junth. Um I never heard about Junth before uh prior to meeting the Shabbazes and the Cage family. the uh these two families introduced me to the event um since 2010 and um I have been involved ever since in helping with organizing and stuff like that. So in 2016, a group of black owned businesses in the area in Ames particularly, we kind of organically decided to organize ourselves to create sort of like a support group more than anything else because we felt in invisible in this town, especially in the bigger uh within the bigger community as business community. And um we were meeting every month at one of our members uh saloon in South Amist and then came uh co and that was an eyeopening for me in particular. Um I was one of the very few black entrepreneur in the area that was able to benefit from co fund. Uh I run uh a health care company called uh BO care adult day program in Hland. I do have uh uh home care services in in Amst and transportation services in Hamampshire County. And so when CO hit most of our members did not get any help. They did not get much help. And part of what we did was to I know personally that I had to take you know proactive action to help some of our members to access some funding and um the disparity was very glaring and then our town received funding upper funds again again we didn't uh our members did not get funding even though we applied two of our members did and we're grateful for that but most of our members did not and so why am I saying this um initially we were um dismissed that BBAA did not exist it was a made up to get our performance um which wasn't true uh we are um nonprofit organization recognized by the federal government uh um 501 501c uh we are also registered by the state of Massachusetts. Our group has grown like more than four times since we started. And currently we also have non black members. You don't have to be a blackowned business to join our our group. And so, um, we've been working on a very shoestring budget, but, um, what we're trying to do this year to celebrate, um, BBAA 10 year anniversary is to distribute, uh, some funding for our members. Um, we're very, uh, I'm very grateful to people and, uh, groups who have donated to BBAA. some of them don't want to be known and some some donated publicly. So, you know, I'm very grateful for that. I'm very grateful for our board members. Uh Dr. Shabbaz is our treasurer. Monica Cage is our secretary. We have um uh Cayam, you know, you all know him. Um he is one of our board members. And of course, Alysia is also our board members. I happen also to be a member of Sanca Gambo after my dear community daughter uh Dr. D Shabbaz passed uh may her soul rest in peace this year's celebration is to is in her honor. So her dear husband Dr. Shabbaz approached me and said do you mind joining Sanca? I can never replace Dr. did. But um that's how I got to be part of Sanca. And I'm so grateful to some of my fellow board members here. Um >> Deborah see and then Dr. um Michael Bugard. We also have um Miss Anita. >> An um Anita Saro. I'm forgetting one more person. >> That's it. >> Anita. >> An who? Anita, you said it. You said >> I just said it. Don't put [laughter] >> um what members. And so when I think about Junth, each year that I think about it, having you know migrated from Nigeria, I have a different definition of freedom. While you know, I'm so grateful for the struggles and fight that the ancestors had to go through. Some of some of them even lost their lives. But I don't I don't think that brown and black people are completely free in this in this country. And so I never take it for granted. And that's my message this year. Like do not take freedom for granted. We see what ICE is doing terrorizing the black and brown community. Uh we see um voting rights, you know, being revoked for some people even in this our town. MS is a very welcoming town but not to everybody. Uh discrimination continues, racism continues. We tend to uh brush things you know under the under the carpet like it didn't happen. We had a hate letter uh in April and our T government you know doesn't want to share you know the letter publicly and so the people who were being targeted um some of them still don't know fellow black and brown people like me the media refused to publish the letter and it's easy to do that by you know through u public what do you call it information act uh the media can always you know request that and publish. Why are we hiding it? You know, racism is not new in our town. I want to do more additional thanks to a councelor Alicia Walker, the vice president uh for town council for coming out and for the citation that the entire council did. It was actually a surprise to me who initiated it. >> Thank you. >> They did. >> Oh, they did. >> I'm so so grateful. I [applause] heard it last night when I was, you know, watching the uh town council meeting. I didn't know this was coming. So, it was a good surprise. Uh thank you. I want to thank our supporters, some of whom are here today. Uh we have John Paige uh from bed. Um we have Philip AA from DEI. I want to talk a little bit about ecosystem that is happening. You know we hear so much about negative stuffs but I but there are good things happening. So you see last year I had after the local election I approached my new district councelor Amber Canard Martin and I said you know uh BBAA has been in existence for more than 9 years and still we don't have any presence in the town website. Is it possible for you to advocate for on behalf of BBAA with the town manager? Actually, she reached out to me and wanted to know what our issues are [clears throat] and I said, you know, having BBAA on the website, you know, when we have other two uh great organization as well, be it and the the chambers that you know where the we are also a business organization. So she did it and you know contacted me and said consider it done that you know she did it and so if people go to you know to our town website and click business you will see the three organization it's about visibility it's about equality it's about you know recognizing everyone it's about inclusion that's the way I say it and it's it's a victory it's a plus so in one of the town council meeting last year. one of the town counselors, uh, Jennifer Tao, there was, uh, there was a discussion around a performance or something like that and and she just made a a very a very to in my mind a very powerful statement and said, well, the town is in the process of hiring a new uh, planning and economic development director. And you know, she looked straight on uh our town manager Paul Bachmann and said, you know, you should try to have him connect with BBAA. And so Jeff Bang, I would say he is extraordinary. And I'm not just saying it because, you know, no, it's not. Um it's hard for me to to, you know, to say something like that, but uh I know he's for real. And so I got communication from uh what's her name? Help me out. From the from Paul uh from the town manager's office uh wanting to you know have a meeting with BBAA actually with myself with Jeff the bed and also the chambers or something like that. And so we've met it was a very productive one and there will be an article coming out that the three uh business organization uh wrote and you know good things are happening behind the scene and I'm excited and it's not about money we're not you know BBAA is not asking for funds from be or chambers it's it's all about you know cooperation you know working together we are not here to like fight each other that's not what we about. I'm all for peace and unity, but it has to be done respect respectfully. Oh my goodness, that flies. >> Yeah, >> it's a good omen. >> Okay. Um I'm not done with my my thanks. I also want to thank um actually the media who came out today. >> Thank you very much uh for coming out. It means a lot to us. Uh I want to thank the organizing committee ver she this this project this year is on her shoulder. She's just doing fantastic job and also to brush and to daughter Monica uh the youngest board member uh helping us out. So I thank you. I want to thank our sponsors. Um I hope I don't forget anybody. So Greenfield Cities Bank, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, uh UMass 5, let's see, women of color coalition and MS uh cultural council gave us the give uh biggest gift >> mass >> and mass humanities. And by the way, uh uh this coming Friday that that will be reading of uh the Frederick Douglas writings. So >> not >> inviting everybody. >> Not that not this Friday. >> This Friday this Friday we will as well as >> Okay. Okay. >> Um so inviting everybody to come. There are other supporters that I didn't include. UMass >> has been a big supporter to us. they're donating like uh uh bottle water for the event that day which is a big help and so I I did a um MSDI big the chambers of course um uh is also supporting us um who else it got it >> okay I think that's it want to say something >> yes >> okay so I'm handing this over to >> Vage [applause] and thank you Miss B for everything. >> Before I I speak I want to introduce Andrea Battle um who is affiliated with so many things in the town of Ammerst. Um >> thank you Michael. >> One of the uh important contributions um is her involvement with the Ammeris League of Women Voters. Um but she's here to say some words personally. >> Very few words. Um um I will be doing a libation for the um beautiful beautiful thing that Miss Pat and them have been promoting along with Chabbaz and all the people here basically. Um it's a good thing and I'm I'm making a plan to do something short and sweet just like this. I'm asking for everyone to remember how many people are supporting us for a change and let's forget about what hasn't happened and just come back and be a town because we need each other >> looking at some of the things coming out. It's an attempt and attempts don't always work if people work together. So as I say this and hand over to u Monica who's going to do a reading from very something very special. You want to introduce yourself? Okay. and her mom is going to introduce it. Just think of that between now and Friday and we'll be talking. Byebye. [applause] Thank you. So, on Saturday, I had the pleasure of um attending uh Deborah Ferrer's uh book party and CD launch party. and I'm going to be reading uh one of the poetry in the book um by her late husband Julius Joe Ford who also contributed immensely to this community. Um, so the book that I'm reading from that is out now is called a uh a book of poetry revolutionary a book of poetry by Deborah Ferrer. Infinite moments of love. Love is blind by Julius Joel Ford. Blind to what I didn't want to see. No one's to blame but me. I sacrificed, made you my life. And now I find my love is blind so I couldn't see. Never did I question you or entertain the suggestion of someone new. I sacrifice and dedicated my life. I want you to remember that I'll never forget you. But I'll move on. Unless I hold on to this dream only to think of you again and feel the joy. Never have time to just stop and think. Dream about making a choice. We've lost love once again. In times of change and restoration, all the frustration of plotted love, it feels the same. Of all the things we like to dream about, open, let it go, feel the flow. There is no doubt. Time shines brightest in the darkest hour when you are requested to love. Come again, show your strength, and we will build our kingdom of love. So, um I'm here under the banner and I think it's so significant that this banner is up on South over South Pleasant Street because it's rare to have an event to have a banner announcing such an important holiday, a piece of US history. Um, and it's such an important part of US history. I'm an Asian-American woman and I want to be able to use my time and energy in this community on this earth to speak truth to power because it's necessary. When most recently, one of our most powerful black women was on live TV being assaulted. Michelle Obama is my first lady. and she will always be my first lady. And I think this poem inspires me to build with one another. Um I was also part of a Bridge for Unity event. Um Deborah Snow is a founding member of Bridge for Unity and she is also someone I look up to and lean to for her words that are so sage powerful and cou courageous and she's a white woman and so I I welcome her to come to the to the microphone if she's inspired and anyone else who's inspired to speak um this is your microphone as the UFC fighters were there with their microphone. You have the mic today. And please think about saying something powerful. Say something moving. Say something inspiring because I see each of every one of you here and most of you have blessed me with your generosity, with your compassion, with your voice when you use it to fight for justice. we win. Um, ladies and gentlemen, everyone in our community, I also want to invite Michael Birkheart also to come to the mic um after Monica or after Deborah to speak. Um, but Monica here is the MC for the Junth event Friday and I want her to share some words today and also perhaps a a poetry reading as well. Hello everyone. Thank you for coming today. My name is Monica Cage. I'm the secretary for the Black Business Association of the Amoris area and I will be your MC on Friday afternoon from 3:00 to 6:00 at the St. Bridges Parish [applause] Auditorium [cheering] in Ammerst, Massachusetts. And I think my purpose of being here today and there on Friday is to really use my voice and my influence and my power within the community to welcome in the younger generation to continue this fight that I stand alongside, you know, all of these amazing activists, educators within this community because history looks like it's repeating itself and this is not a time to be afraid or to be helpless or to be confused or to be lost. Because just as all of these crisis and emergencies and acts of injustice are continuing to happen, there's also solutions to the problems that have shown to work throughout history. And so, it's time to come together as a community. It's time to organize. It's time to celebrate. It's time to dance and rejoice over food and music and community and welcome in the younger generation to continue to empower them to continue their education and to pursue whatever entrepreneurial endeavors or ideas or passions, whatever that may look like. That's what the Black Business Association is about and that's what I feel my purpose is and to continue these intergenerational conversations because nothing happens without listening to one another, without sharing ideas and experiences with different organizations within the community, different members of the public education system or you know within the university. It was opportunity for everyone to come together, share their visions for the future, and this Friday is a perfect example of how we can do that, how we can continue that conversation. Um, and I'd also like to share a poem by Deborah Pereira called MLK. This movement was about you, but not about you. It was a movement fueled by spirit. Your steps measured, precise, uncertain, determined, filled with a doubt. Yet it was steadfast as your inner soul guided you. How do you stay strong when death is all around you? Death of four precious girls who were but children with dreams of growing up, playing with their friends, loving their family, falling in love, becoming part of a community, but instead were blown away never to see another tomorrow. Death of countless men, women, children who walked peacefully, nonviolently to say that they were human and deserve to have a voice where they lived. death of all those who heard this call and join the march for justice believing that love can conjure her hatred. Death of a man who gave up his own personal dreams to lead a people a country into facing itself and coming out on the other side different knowing that as people there was more work to be done. We are our ancestors. We are made of them. We are fortified by them. We would be nothing without acknowledging their sacrifice. MLK, Ida B. Wells, Malcolm X, Mahalia Jackson, Megar Evers, Sjourer Truth, Muhammad Ali, Madam CJ Walker. Rest knowing that we will continue your fight for justice. We will not rest until your world is free. Thank you, Monica Cage. I also want to acknowledge Milan Clark is here. I um and he's also the uh PEG coordinator for Ammerst Media. Thank you very much for being here and [applause] filming. Um Milan is also a part of the human rights commission here in town. Um so I welcome him to the microphone if he chooses. Um maybe towards the end. Okay, great. Shabbaz >> want to ask Philip to come on up and let us folks know about the community wellness and resiliency um sessions that are going on. There have been two that have been held so far. There's two more going. These are on Thursday. He'll tell you more. This is our assistant director of our department of diversity, equity, inclusion here in the town of Ammeris. Philout. >> [applause] >> Yes, thank you so much Shabbaz and all the organizers and thank you so much for um inviting me out here. Uh yes, we have a community wellness um and resiliency conversations happening. Our town has experienced um some heartache uh just to put it um bluntly and frankly and so we are having space to hold and to gather have a conversation. This Thursday um we are going to be having a conversation. Next Thursday is another conversation. You can find more of that on our website on the diversity, equity, inclusion website. And I welcome um everybody to join. It's Thursday at 5:30 at the Banks Community Center. It's um there'll be food there. Good company. Hopefully you all show up. Y'all showed up for a few of them already. So, it's really great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. And Michael Kirkart, want to say a word? Oh. Oh, Deborra's here. Very good. Right behind you. >> Hey, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh I'm Deborah Snow. of Bridge for Unity. Formerly I owned the Blue Heron restaurant. Um what I want to say is uh first it is so great to have this banner and that banner is there because of all of you. We celebrate Junth because of people making noise, people speaking up continually, non-stop, making it speaking truth to power. Uh I and and BBAA, I mean, it's it's incredible. And it's incredible that you received this because I remember when you started there was no recognition and and getting recognition is painful and pain and it's pain that people don't deserve. So it is great to see you get this recognition. Uh and I just want to say that um Andrea what you said the importance of community that regardless of of All that happens, celebrating, having joy, creating community is where the power is. The voices get stronger. And I believe that totally. That is what bridge for unity is about. That's where it came from. Is that yeah, we need to make change. We need to keep that change happening. It needs to be inclusive. It needs to be multigenerational. It needs to be include all people. and it's creating this community and I just want to thank everyone's work for that because it wouldn't have happened without this work. So, thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. [cheering] The other shout out, we're going to gather under it like we did with the Black Lives Matter and take a picture momentarily, but anyone else >> and then Milan >> and then Milan, let them know the kind of work you're doing besides saying Kofa Gumbo and um other things. Let them know what you're doing. I'm also on the board of Ammerst Media. Am I loud enough? >> Yeah. Close. >> Right. Okay. >> There you go. >> So, um, >> housing. >> Yeah, I'm on I'm the on the, uh, board of the Ammerst Housing Commission, which provides housing for lowincome and to disable old and elderly people here in our town. It's a collaboration with the the state which owns the properties, but the town has a say in the governance. So, it strikes me how important today is in light of what happened to Michelle Obama, uh, in light of Trump's administration trying to erase important events from the history of our country at public museums and otherwise. this this fight about pushing back on black freedom has has never ended and we're still seeing it play out today. The way they're going at it is actually scaring white folks that I know because they're trying to dismantle part of the government itself. So for the first time I'm seeing middle class white people who are scared that the comfort we've always felt in this country is in jeopardy. And understandably they're kind of immobilized out of fear. And one of the significant things about Jun June 19 uh Junth is the African-American community is one group of people in this nation who know how to stand up in the face of fear. And I think of those people in the church, was it Birmingham when the crowd outside was gathered and it would look like it was going to go violent and people just started singing and they created such sound that actually the whites petered away. They couldn't stand up to that energy. And so what I say then my white friends is uh pick a lesson from what African-Americans do and know and look for their leadership they provide either in history or in uh what's going on today. And once again, you got poetry. And what [snorts] African-Americans have learned is art is so essential to not losing your soul in the face of oppression. And I've done martial arts for a long time. One of the things I know fear is the whole thing and distracting. If people can get your head, they got you for a second, you're done. And so you knowing how to not get mobilized with fear is so important. That's why this day is also so important. Thank you for coming. I want to thank you for coming too. I thought I'd say a little bit more about Junth. Junth is a major step on our progress towards democracy. >> Democracy is the American United States project. Democracy is the American project. When the Constitution was first passed, only white men who owned property were able to vote, right? It was a long time before other white men were allowed to vote. It was almost a hundred years before women were allowed to vote. Black men got to vote legally, right? In 1864, but the actual ability to use that vote didn't happen until the 1960s, 100 years later. and people are still fighting to get a chance at that vote. >> So Junth is our second Independence Day. We're still looking toward one when everyone will feel included where the unemployed and the impoverished near the bottom of the social and economic ladder uh think it's their chance and take their opportunity and aren't talked out about it. So, uh, we're a stage. We're moving toward a better country. And, uh, once Americans get once white Americans get used to be treated like black people, they'll stand up to [applause] I have the opposite. Can you hear me? >> No. >> The mic got turned off. >> No, the mic got turned off. Go with the switch. >> Put the switch. >> Excuse your teacher's voice. >> Oh, yeah. >> Thank you. Yes. Uh, I recently got to do this. >> Hold it closer to your mouth. I recently got to recite a poem that I think you should hear right now. Um, it was written over a hundred years ago. It's by one of my favorite poets, Langston Hughes. I too sing America. I am the darker sister. They tell me to eat in the kitchen when company comes. I laugh. I eat well. And I grow strong. >> Tomorrow I'll be at the table when company comes. And nobody will dare say to me, "Eat in the kitchen." Then >> besides, they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed. I too am an American. Langston Hughes. >> [applause] >> want to mention that as Milan comes up, um it's really wonderful to see the whole valley getting engaged. Uh we'll start out on Friday at 1:00 a.m. up in Greenfield at Greenfield Community College. Um I'll be in involved with their program up there. We come down here. We'll start at 3:00 at St. Bridges. And then in the evening we go to East Hampton. Um 7:00 the doors open at the Maragold Theater with the uh group uh Rebell. So really we're all over the valley with this energy. [applause] >> Hello everyone. Um wasn't really prepared to speak. Uh it's kind of a surprise. Um, I guess uh just really what I just have to say is that I appreciate this community and as time goes on, I appreciate it more and more. I see this community coming together. Um when I first started attending uh community events, there was a lot more clickish like clicks involved. But uh I actually see that those groups of people are blend together in different ways and different events and whether it be a party at someone's house to celebrate one event or over at the recreation center to celebrate raceity. Um I do see a lot of the same people come together and I think that is important because it is important to build a strong base of community and to get to know each other to work together to collaborate and cooperate and I think um by building consciousness and uh understanding our own uh identities as well as the others around us that goes along a long way for uh understanding one another and to be there for each other. So, I just really hope that we all continue to do uh such uh great uh community building things. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Milan. I see you wearing that Texas t-shirt, [laughter] too. So, go Spurs, I guess. Uh for next, for next year at least. [laughter] >> Oh, oh, oh, oh. Don't take it away. >> No, no, no. We We're having a good time. >> Waiting 50 years. >> We're having a good time. >> I said for next year. We definitely salute the Knicks this year. But um one other thing to mention, S Kofa Gambo, my late wife and I uh founded it um on the meaning of that aan proverb which means to return to go back and fetch it that it is not taboo to go back into the past to bring to the present what we need to guide our future. And so it's that idea of the sanca bird, that idea of go back and fetch it that um we think it's important to uh honor those who move in the spirit of our ancestors. And so on Friday uh at the Ammerst event, we will be honoring Sister Kathleen Anderson [applause] and a recent graduate uh for our youth uh uh award um excellence award, Charles Walker Hoover, who just graduated from UMass Ammerst this past uh May. in [applause] East Hampton that night at the Margo Theater, we're going to be honoring uh one of the leading authorities on black folks in tennis in the world, uh Arthur Carrington. So, we give a shout out to Arthur Carrington. He used to uh uh over there at Hampshire had a tennis uh program for many, many years uh out there at Hampshire College. So, um, is there any other business before those who like? And also, we have sodas here. If you're thirsty, please, uh, get something from the chest here. But otherwise, we'll try to organize. Uh, the other time we were 100, so we just block traffic. But I think we'll we can just angle kind of to the side and get a nice picture. >> All right. >> All right. Here we go. >> Okay. One, two, three. This way. One, two, three. >> Count. One, two, three. One, two, three.