Caribbean Matters: Celebrating National Caribbean Heritage Month and cultural ties to the U.S.

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

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Thursday June 01, 2023 · 5:29 AM PDT

2023/06/01 · 05:29

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness meets with VP Kamala Harris at the White House on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 — Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

National Caribbean Heritage Month here in the U.S. begins June 1. When the news was announced that Vice President Kamala Harris would be heading to the Caribbean on June 8 for a meeting in the Bahamas with Caribbean leaders, it struck me that this meeting, one of several that she has already participated in, is a clear example of the cultural and personal ties that exist between some of our prominent political figures and Caribbean nations. For the first time in history, our second-most powerful politician, the vice president, has direct ties—via her father’s family—to Jamaica.

To kick off the celebration, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight her, along with other key Caribbean American figures in the Biden administration and Congress.

Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean.

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Sunday May 28, 2023 · 5:59 AM PDT

2023/05/28 · 05:59

no image description available — African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, D.C.

This Memorial Day weekend, I’m thinking about my Black ancestors who fought and died for this nation in every war. I think about those who served and lived to tell the tale. They came home to die a slower death, under racism and discrimination, which is also a killer. I honor them all.

When thinking about music to both celebrate their lives and memorialize their joining the ancestors, my thoughts turned immediately to the work of William Grant Still, who was known as “The Dean of African American Composers.”

Black Music Sunday is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music. With over 150 stories (and counting) covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack, I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Thursday May 25, 2023 · 5:29 AM PDT

2023/05/25 · 05:29

This week, in my searches for U.S. media coverage of Puerto Rico, I was delighted to see #PuertoRico trending on various social media platforms. The problem for me, however, is that almost all the major media and social media response was centered on two Puerto Ricans and U.S. passport stories.

The first story concerns a Puerto Rican man who was denied his pre-booked rental car from Hertz because he had a Puerto Rican driver’s license for ID and not a passport. Apparently, the Hertz employee thought the man wasn’t a U.S. citizen. Hertz has issued an apology. The second story is that a Sprint Airlines employee refused to allow a Puerto Rican family to board a flight to Puerto Rico because their 2-year-old did not have a passport. The story has garnered some non-U.S. coverage. The airline has also apologized.

This almost-exclusive focus was taking place—despite there being so much more recent news about Puerto Rico. There was a U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling two weeks ago against the island’s progressive investigative journalists seeking records from the financial oversight board that deal with Puerto Rico’s questionable finances. Facing another hurricane season, Puerto Rico’s power grid issues are far from being resolved. Vieques has not had a working hospital since 2017. The Puerto Rico Status Bill in Congress was reintroduced to the House. Gentrification and displacement on the island continues, with tax breaks for wealthy mainland buyers in effect. There are also major climate change and environmental issues on the island to confront.

Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean.

Denise Oliver Velez for Black Kos community

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 24, 2023 · 11:59 AM PDT

2023/05/24 · 11:59

UPDATE: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 · 10:05:47 PM +00:00 · Denise Oliver Velez

From the Tina Turner Twitter account:

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly. pic.twitter.com/8SihpxMe14
— TinaTurner (@tinaturner) May 24, 2023

It is with great sadness I’m passing this news on. Ms. Tina Turner passed away peacefully today, at the age of 83.

Tributes are pouring in from around the globe.

Denise Oliver Velez

Community

Wednesday May 24, 2023 · 10:10 AM PDT

2023/05/24 · 10:10

Union Soldiers cemetery, "Martyrs of the Race course," Charleston, S.C. — The caption reads "Union Soldiers Cemetery, 'Martyrs of the Race Course,' Charleston, S.C."

It has become a Daily Kos tradition for me to republish this Memorial Day story I wrote in 2016. Some of the links and text has been updated. I have ancestors, Black and white, who fought for the Union during the Civil War. This is posted in their honor. —DOV

A pencil drawing and a grainy photo in the Library of Congress are all that is left of the cemetery where 257 Union soldiers were buried after the Civil War, on what had been a horse race course in Charleston, South Carolina. Nor has much been written about the memorial celebration held by more than 10,000 mostly newly freed blacks, which was one of the first, if not the first memorial held for those who fought to end slavery.

Denise Oliver Velez for Daily Kos

Community

Sunday May 21, 2023 · 6:00 AM PDT

2023/05/21 · 06:00

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JULY 29: Recording Artist Gladys Knight performs at The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre on July 29, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Monica Morgan/Getty Images) — Gladys Knight performs in July 2022

Seven seems to be a very lucky number for Gladys Knight—who has had an amazing career in music, with a discography to match her list of awards and honors. That list includes seven Grammys, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a National Medal of Arts.

Knight, dubbed “The Empress of Soul,” has been singing her heart out and capturing the love of audiences around the globe for over seven decades, since the age of seven. Born on May 28, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, the Empress celebrates her 79th birthday next Sunday. Given the amazing amount of music she has recorded—with The Pips, as a soloist, and with other music greats—it’s just not possible to properly celebrate her on just one day. Seven days seems about right, so while Knight finishes up her 78th year, I’m going to be playing her tunes every day this week—starting today. Join me!

Black Music Sunday is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music. With over 160 stories (and counting) covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack, I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.

Denise Oliver Velez

Community

Friday May 19, 2023 · 3:06 AM PDT

2023/05/19 · 03:06

Rep. Stacey Plaskett delivers opening statement during weaponization subcommittee hearing — Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

U.S. Virgin Islands Congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett did not mince words in her opening statement Thursday to the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. She called out the farce being enacted by “MAGA Republicans” and meticulously dissected everything that is anti-democratic about the clown show that is the subcommittee chaired by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan.

Many Americans may remember Plaskett from her work prosecuting Donald Trump in the House impeachment hearings. Her remarks in yesterday’s hearing are well worth a listen. She calls the subcommittee what it is: a dangerous waste of time and taxpayer money that’s essentially a “clearinghouse” for potential conspiracy theories Donald Trump can use on the 2024 campaign trail.

RELATED STORY: Jim Jordan unable to stop Democratic lawmakers from dissecting his farce hearing

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Thursday May 18, 2023 · 5:29 AM PDT

2023/05/18 · 05:29

Here at “Caribbean Matters,” we most often deal with the region’s people, politics and culture. When dealing with the environment, we tend to focus on disasters, and there have been far too many them. It is a rare and pleasant change to report on the work being done to protect marine life. I was elated to see a “60 Minutes” feature this week about efforts to preserve the sperm whales who live year-round in the waters around the island nation of Dominica.

Let’s dive in.

Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean.

Denise Oliver Velez

Community

Wednesday May 17, 2023 · 2:04 AM PDT

2023/05/17 · 02:04

House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing — Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

Republicans in Congress continue to hold bogus committee hearings to pretend they are governing and to take potshots at any Democrats they can. The travesty of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing Tuesday, where they grilled Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and got put in their place, was lifted from the sewer by remarks from freshman Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

Crockett, who represents Texas's 30th District covering most of the city of Dallas and other parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties, was elected to the seat held by Eddie Bernice Johnson when Johnson retired. Crockett is a fiery new representative who shared she is not going to quietly allow Republicans to lie and mount hypocritical attacks on Democrats when Congressman George Santos, who was indicted on 13 criminal counts last week, remains in their midst.

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Sunday May 14, 2023 · 5:59 AM PDT

2023/05/14 · 05:59

I miss my mom. She joined the ancestors on Feb. 9, 1999. She was not, however, my only “mom,” since mothering is not exclusive to birthing. Throughout my life I’ve had “mom” teachers, “mom” mentors, godmothers, auntie moms, and a wonderful grandmother. Now I’m 75, and while I never birthed any children, I also have a group of younger folks who call me “mom” or madrina. In mothering them, I’m simply returning what was given to me by so many wonderful women over the years.

A lot of music pays tribute to the women in our lives who have made a difference for us. There are women who, as activists, are viewed as universal mothers. There is also music that looks at the idea of “mother” as a birthplace—a home.

Join me in celebrating all of these varied aspects of mothering this Mother’s Day.

RELATED STORY: Black Music Sunday: Celebrating our mamas, grandmas, and aunties with music

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Thursday May 11, 2023 · 5:29 AM PDT

2023/05/11 · 05:29

Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, leader of The Proud Boys, holds an US flags during a protest showing support for Cubans demonstrating against their government, in Miami, Florida on July 16, 2021. (Photo by Eva Marie UZCATEGUI / AFP) (Photo by EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI/AFP via Getty Images) — Henry Enrique Tarrio wears the elekes (beaded necklaces of Santeria) that he got from his mother.

After the mass shooter in Allen, Texas, was identified as a man of Hispanic ethnicity and evidence began to emerge linking him to white supremacy ideology, a lot of people couldn’t understand it, or denied it, or just didn’t “get it.” MAGA Republicans were quick to push “blame antifa” or “illegals” agendas, but it became perfectly clear that Mauricio Garcia was engaged with and enamored with white supremacy.

There was pushback on social media against the denial and attempts were made to educate the folks who seemed confused, the people who were asking, “How could a Latino be part of the white supremacist cabal?” There was an obvious and immediate example: recently convicted Proud Boys leader, Henry Enrique Tarrio, who is Afro-Cuban.

This phenomenon isn’t new. Yes, Virginia, there are white supremacists who ain’t white. Anyone aware of the white supremacist genocidal Caribbean history of politicians like Rafael Trujillo, or the politics of many right-wing Republican-voting Cuban exile families should know this. But a very common obstacle in accepting this reality is that many “real” white people don’t see white Latinos as really white. There are Latinos who don’t want to take a hard look at this, either. The fact that Latinos are often put into that demographic grab-bag of “people of color,” whether or not they self-identify as such, confuses the issue even more.

It’s time to examine this and clarify the matter. Join me for some perspectives from Latino journalists, social scientists, and educators.

RELATED STORY: Elon Musk goes with conspiracy theories peddled about Texas mass shooting

Caribbean Matters is a weekly series from Daily Kos. If you are unfamiliar with the region, check out Caribbean Matters: Getting to know the countries of the Caribbean.

Denise Oliver Velez for Community Contributors Team

Community

Sunday May 07, 2023 · 5:59 AM PDT

2023/05/07 · 05:59

It’s spring here in New York, and May is usually filled with flowers, but few of mine are blooming yet. I walked out into my garden this week, looking at the winter damage which I’ve not yet repaired. A version of an old refrain, often incorrectly attributed to Ogden Nash, echoed in my head: "Spring has sprung and the grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers is?"

I decided I’d have to celebrate my spring and the not-yet-blossomed flowers with music. I waltzed around to the sound of Freddie Hubbard’s “Up Jumped Spring,” which brightened a gray and cloudy day, and went digging through my music collection to find more tunes on spring, and flowers to lift my spirits.

I hope they will lift yours.

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Caribbean Matters: Celebrating National Caribbean Heritage Month and cultural ties to the U.S.

Black Music Sunday: Honoring those who served and died for a country that still discriminates

Caribbean Matters: While media hyped American ignorance about Puerto Rico, what did they ignore?

Tina Turner has joined the ancestors

The Memorial Day history forgot: The martyrs of the race course

Black Music Sunday: Celebrating Gladys Knight's 7-decade career with 7 days of her music

'This is defund the police on steroids': Rep. Stacey Plaskett takes Republicans to task

Caribbean Matters: Inside the efforts to protect the sperm whales of Dominica

Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett grills Republicans in the House over George Santos

Black Music Sunday: A musical tribute to many different types of moms

Caribbean Matters: Not all white supremacists are 'white'

Black Music Sunday: 'Spring has sprung, the grass has riz,' and jazz is 'where the flowers is'