The 44 Percent: Black veterans, Jill Tracey update, Black Violin performs and more
When I called one of the veterans in my life this past Monday night to thank him for his service, he made a joke that I haven’t stopped thinking about for the past few days.
“You gave 20 or 30 years of your life to the U.S. military!” he said. We laughed in the moment, but that sat with me after I got off the phone.
While I never enlisted in the military, much of my life has been connected to the work of a U.S. soldier. I have moved all over the continental U.S. and lived abroad. I’ve introduced myself to countless people that I will likely never see again. I can show you how to survive in the worst winter and the hottest sun.
RELATED: These Black veterans served in multiple wars. Now they meet daily at a Miami McDonald’s
I didn’t realize until I moved to Miami at the end of 2021 how much joining the military represented a way out of the racism of the American South in the 1960s for my paternal grandfather from Liberty City. My older brother was the first person in our family to graduate from college. My grandfather’s sacrifice was immeasurable.
To be clear, the military had its own type of racism that existed within its ranks by the time my dad enlisted in the early 1980s. But at the very least, it provided my family members with a steady income, healthcare and a chance to see the world that seemed previously unattainable.
Being in a military family means learning skills at a young age that prepare you well for adulthood. But make no mistake–these are not things that necessarily make for a better childhood. I’m savvy at networking now because moving around meant that I had to learn how to introduce myself a million times.
I don’t have very many close friends because I never had the opportunity to know a group of people from kindergarten through high school. I can do things like go to a movie by myself. All of these things became second nature to me because I knew that having a father in the military meant living a life in support of his.
As we remember the sacrifices of our veterans this week, I hope people pay attention to the sacrifices their loved ones and the people closest to them also have to make.
INSIDE THE 305:
At Miami conference, Black business professionals react to news of Trump’s reelection
Less than 24 hours after Donald Trump became president-elect, Black businessmen congregated for the Black Men XCEL in Aventura. The event was a sobering moment for many who found community among each other as they considered how they will likely operate under another Trump presidency.
As minority business reporter Michael Butler writes: The conference began Wednesday, mere hours after Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, something that cast a shadow over an otherwise jubilant gathering at a beautiful hotel. Politics were not at the core of the event but were inextricable from the conversation for the Black business people in attendance as they considered their future work.
Fort Lauderdale woman receives racist text ordering her to go to ‘the nearest plantation’
A day after former President Donald Trump was elected, many Black residents in the United States received text message blasts telling them they should report to the nearest plantation to pick cotton. A South Florida woman was among them and encouraged others to go to the FBI if they’ve received similar messages.
Miami radio legend Jill Tracey’s funeral plans announced; Supa Cindy to host ceremony
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Funeral plans for South Florida radio legend Jill Tracey have been announced. Tracey died earlier this month. She was 60. The funeral is open to the public and the ceremony will be hosted by Supa Cindy.
OUTSIDE THE 305:
Judith Jamison, influential dancer and choreographer, dies at 81
Famed Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison is now an ancestor. Her sleek moves breathed life into performances. Her love for dance and zest for life was a joy.
From NBC: Jamison grew up in Philadelphia and began dancing at the age of six, she said in a 2019 TED talk. She joined Ailey’s modern dance company in 1965, when few Black women were prominent in American dance, and performed there for 15 years.
Denzel Washington Says ‘Black Panther 3’ Will Be One of His Last Movies Before He Retires
We’re on the brink of the end of an era. Denzel Washington soft launched his retirement during an interview with Australia’s Today this week, but not before hinting at his next few projects, including a role in the next Black Panther movie.
According to Variety: Denzel Washington revealed in August that “there are very few films” left for him to make at this stage in his Oscar-winning career, but now he’s revealing that “Black Panther 3″ is one of them. Speaking to Australia’s “Today” while on the press tour for “Gladiator II,” Washington said that director Ryan Coogler is writing him a role in the third “Black Panther” film. It will be one of Washington’s final movies along with a new Steve McQueen project and a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello.”
HIGH CULTURE:
Black Violin performs this weekend
Musical duo Black Violin will perform at the Au-Rene Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The group, which features Kev Marcus playing the violin and Wil B on the viola, first met in orchestra at Dillard High School. Since then, they have since been Grammy-nominated and performed alongside Alicia Keys and at former President Barack Obama’s inaugural ball in 2013. Prices for Sunday’s concert start at $20.
