Thursday's things: "It is the people, it is the people, it is the people"

Julia Smith

19 Jun 2025 — 1 min read

Quote from this Kaveh Akbar piece.

Item 1. Listen w/ care

If you read only one thing about Iran/Israel/U.S. empire today, consider Kaveh Akbar's At Least We Are Many: Resisting the Drums of War. (The Nation)
See also: Zahra Shahtahmasebi's What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people. (Shit You Should Care About Substack)

Item 2. Observe w/ respect

Not my lane: suggesting to Black people how to observe Juneteenth! My lane = Sharing these suggestions with others:

Pledge your PTO ➡️ Have a paid holiday today? If you're able, donate the equivalent of a day's wages to a Black-led org like Free Root or the groups Whitney Alese recommends (@thereclaimed on Instagram) or folks on Ericka Hart's crowdsourced list (@ihartericka on IG).
Learn / teach ➡️ Explore resources for younger folks (book recs from PBS or Raising Luminaries) and older (e.g. Clint Smith and Rhiannon Giddons on DemocracyNow!; Zinn Education Project).

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Spoiler

Coming tomorrow: Supporting queer and trans youth, Friday follow-ups, and the weekend wish.

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Alice Walker quote "Look closely at the present you are constructing, it should look like the future you are dreaming." above drawing of someone wearing a "You are on Turtle Island" t-shirt

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