44 percent: Liberty City bookstore opens on Juneteenth, Black dentists
When Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 at the wishes of Opal Lee, a retired teacher and activist in Marshall, Texas, I worried it would become too commodified. I'm sure I wasn't the only one.
And four years later, here we are: the catered events that aren't free for the community and the sales offered by corporate entities selling fashions that don't bear the colors of the Juneteenth flag — red, white and blue (because it's ours, too)— among other things, are on full display.
It is tough to see a holiday centered around Black liberation become so commercialized, and in a sense lose the meaning intended for it in less than half a decade. It's disheartening, but I'm reminded of why the Roots Bookstore & Marketplace exists and why it's necessary: to serve the community. It gives me hope for what could be on a holiday in which it feels like dividends over people are prioritized.
However you decide to celebrate your Juneteenth, I hope you keep Black communities in mind when doing so. Also, it's OK to do nothing for Juneteenth and take the time to use it as a reset for your mind and body.
INSIDE THE 305:
On Juneteenth, their dream of bringing a bookstore to Liberty City becomes reality
I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek inside the Roots Bookstore & Market, the brainchild of the late Danny Agnew, his brother Phillip and their friend Isaiah Thomas, before it opened, and it is for us. From Black classics from Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou to Black erotica from authors such as Zane and Eric Jerome Dickey novels and the ambiance of jazz, hip-hop and R&B floating in the space, this is for us.
'We're not monolithic:' Nia Long, Larenz Tate reflect on Love Jones, Black films
It was such a joy to hear the lively conversation and witness the magnetic chemistry between Nia Long and Larenz Tate, co-stars of the iconic '90s classic film 'Love Jones' at the American Black Film Festival. The two sat down with Access Hollywood's Scott Evans, discussing their bond, the chemistry behind the iconic film, some of the challenges they faced and the importance of showcasing Black love on screen. Above all what was clear from both of them was Black films should highlight the breadth of our culture: 'We're not monolithic,' Tate said. 'We have a story to tell.'
Less than 4% of dentists are Black. This South Florida family wants to change that
I'd been following the Phanord family on Instagram, contemplating them as potential dentists when I first moved to South Florida. My colleague Michael Butler wrote a wonderful profile on the family's legacy and why it's essential for them to continue it.
Roger Phanord and his twin sons, Kyle and Kevin, are now practicing together at North Miami's Phanord and Associates, a dental clinic with 12,000 active patients, a number Roger says is uncommonly high for a general practice, Butler reports. The three men are part of a small fraction of Black dentists in America, who make up less than 4% of all dentists in the U.S. Through mentorship, the family seeks to increase that number and help diversify their industry.
OUTSIDE THE 305:
Marla Gibbs Announces Memoir 'It's Never Too Late'
Beloved actress Marla Gibbs is finally releasing her memoir 'It's Never Too Late.' People magazine reported. Gibbs, who is 94 years young, is known for her roles as Florence in 'The Jeffersons' and Mary in '227.'
HIGH CULTURE:
Juneteenth celebrations in Broward, Miami-Dade
Should you choose to celebrate Juneteenth outside the confines of your home, the Herald has compiled a few events for your choosing, which vary from free to paid. No matter what you do, have a safe and joyful Juneteenth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
We spent 8 hours at Ebony Beach Club's ‘Juneteenth on the Pier'
The Ebony Beach Club's priority is to create a space for Black beachside communities in Los Angeles. So, every year on Juneteenth, they transform a local beach into a full-blown festival, consisting of nonstop DJs, a vivacious dance floor and neighborly vendors. This year, the beach club partnered with Black Lives Matter and took over the Santa Monica Pier. Here's everything that went down. 12:39 p.m. I arrive early. Ebony Beach Club founder, Brick, runs from vendor to vendor, ensuring everyone is ready for the day ahead. He boasts that there's 'not a cloud in sight' — and that everything is aligning for today's 'historic moment.' 1:58 p.m. I never thought I would be able to say I've found a sense of inner peace in the middle of the Santa Monica Pier. The typically chaotic environment is transformed by rhythmic breathing exercises and sound bath frequencies. For a moment, it does feel like I am cooking under the hot summer sun, but still, I couldn't be more at ease. 3:09 p.m. So far, the music selection transcends generations. Anything from Aaliyah to YG and Frankie Beverly fills the beachy air. But after hearing more than one early 2000s Ne-Yo classic, I can't help but wonder what he's up to. Why the lack of 2025 Ne-Yo bangers? 3:40 p.m. The crowd is slowly growing. Most partygoers sport a mix of brightly colored swimwear with denim shorts or matching mini skirts. Others wear graphic tees that commemorate the holiday and show L.A. pride. The most standout looks so far have included bejeweled thongs, color-coordinated snapbacks and sneakers and pleated, baggy jorts. 3:58 p.m. In the flash of a moment, a familiar face glides through the crowded pier. Her grill catches the light and a pair of Labubus hangs from a designer bag. It's none other than R&B royalty Kehlani. A growing swarm of fans start to catch on. I get my chance to say something as she passes. I compliment her latest single and let her continue on her mission to the bar. Cool, casual and of course, no mention of the fact that I was listening to the Kehlani Spotify radio on the whole drive over. 4:45 p.m. Brick halts the music and offers a quick history lesson from the DJ decks. He speaks of the first Ebony Beach Club, started by a man named Silas White in 1957. That year, 2,000 Black people, including Brick's own grandfather, signed up to be members. But the City of Santa Monica had barred it from ever opening. Today's Ebony Beach Club celebration roughly creates space for around 2,000 people to be at the exact same beach and enjoy the party. 'This is the most Black people the Santa Monica pier has seen in a while,' said Brick, who was met with an echoing applause. 'Today, we are Black people who are occupying this space for the first time in a long time.' 5:30 p.m. The emcee says, 'If you're outside the barricade, I'm sorry. If you couldn't get a ticket, I'm sorry.' He addresses the consistent crowd of onlookers who have lingered by the barricades. Some appear to be tourists, but most spectators seem like they were too late to grab a ticket. Nonetheless, they are able to indulge in the sights and sounds, even if it's for only a few minutes. 6:17 p.m. What's an L.A. party without Los Tucanes de Tijuana's 'La Chona?' The norteño anthem gets mixed into T.I. 's 'What You Know.' Unexpected, but somehow serendipitous. 7:25 p.m. I'm starting to seriously question the weight limit on the truck. Though its height is that of a monster truck, it has the feel of a clown car. The truck bed, filled with DJ equipment, is overflowing with people singing along and jumping to the beat. People are perched atop the car, as well as those hanging off its side, in an impressive, partially aerial twerk. I can't even imagine the kind of core strength that it takes. 7:51 p.m. As the party wraps up, Sexyy Red's distinctive vocals overtake the crowd. It feels like one final hurrah. If there's been one consistent feeling that's marked the entire party, it's been an infectious sense of joy. 8:05 p.m. On the way back to the car, people yell 'Happy Juneteenth' out their car windows. My feet are a bit achy and the tops of my shoulders a little sore to the touch, but spirits are still high. Now for the biggest test of patience — braving the traffic of leaving a Santa Monica parking structure.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Kroger's Juneteenth Cakes Spark Backlash: ‘This Is a Mockery!'
A Kroger in Atlanta, Georgia is going viral for its Juneteenth cake offerings. A TikTok video posted on June 17 shows haphazardly decorated desserts sitting in the bakery section of the supermarket. 'This is some bulls---,' TikToker @ says at the start of the video. 'Who the hell made this ugly-ass s---?' The video, which now has over 10 million views, shows shelves stocked with birthday cakes and other treats, then lands on a table selling Juneteenth cookie cakes. 'Y'all decorate everything else around here cute, everything else around here cute,' the TikToker says. 'But for Juneteenth, you wanna just throw something on a freaking cookie cake and expect someone to buy it.' Several desserts are shown, some with printed designs, others featuring phrases like 'FREE,' 'June 19 Free,' 'Congratulations' and 'Free @ Last' written off-center in icing. The phrase 'free at last' is known for being a prominent part of Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech, borrowed from the title of a Negro-Spiritual song. And now the phrase, which represents a hard-fought struggle, is being featured on a supermarket cake, casually scribbled in internet shorthand. 'I'm a be in here bright, early in the morning to talk to somebody about this, because this is unacceptable,' concludes the TikToker, who did not respond to request for comment. 'Kroger count your days,' they added in the post's caption. 'Why even bother if you're going to lack creativity … This is a mockery!' In the comments section of the video, many agreed. 'Free @ last is just insane 😭😭😭😭,' commented one TikTok user. 'It's giving 'here damn' 💀,' wrote another. 'Gurl! Not the last one saying Congratulations,' added someone else. 'Like Congratulations You're free! 🤦🏽♀️🤭.' 'I would absolutely take that cake that says FREE,' wrote one Reddit user, and another replied, 'Yea I mean it's says FREE I thought it was free.' For its part, Kroger says the desserts featured in the video were 'inconsistent' with its 'provided guidance.' 'The products have been removed, and we've addressed this directly with the store teams and the customer who took the initial video,' it added. The removal of the controversial cookie cakes was confirmed by @ in a follow-up TikTok video. 'I still feel some type of way that they didn't replace them with better Juneteenth cakes,' she says. However, there were some folks on the internet who felt 'mixed' on the issue. An alleged Kroger employee on Reddit wrote, 'I understand that people here are overworked and underpaid like crazy. However, admittedly these cake are not the best looking and def could've been made better.' In response, other Reddit users said, 'It looks like they don't have an experienced cake decorator,' and pointed out that 'it was probably someone with minimal training and not much time, doing their best.' Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced enslaved people were free. This was two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. In June 1883, the Galveston Daily News reported on the 18th annual Emancipation Day — what would today be considered Juneteenth — celebrations across Texas. In 2022, Walmart drew backlash for releasing its own Juneteenth-themed ice cream, which critics said attempted to capitalize on a Black holiday rather than highlight already existing Black-owned ice cream brands. The chain later apologized to customers, writing, 'Juneteenth holiday marks a commemoration and celebration of freedom and independence. However, we received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers and we sincerely apologize.' Then, in 2023, a Reddit post showed another controversial Juneteenth dessert sold at Walmart — watermelon-themed cakes. While watermelon and red-colored foods are associated with Juneteenth, many commenters still thought the choice was 'tacky.' This article was originally published on
Los Angeles Times
3 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Dublab kicks off Juneteenth weekend with free food and drinks and no cover
Juneteenth was off to a great start thanks to a passionate team at Dublab dedicated to community, culture and accessibility. With free food, good vibes and a shared purpose, the celebration brought people together in a powerful way.
