I had a few errands to run this afternoon. First stop was to drop off loaned items at the library that were due. The plan was to put them in the outside drop box because, since today is a federal holiday, I expected the library to be closed. It wasn’t. I went inside to the indoor drop box and picked up the two items waiting on the hold shelf.
Because I was stone broke, a.k.a. skint (thanks, Steve!) I headed to the credit union to use the automatic teller machine. Sure enough, my financial institution was also open on a federal holiday.
The Fourth of July celebrates Independence Day yet it symbolized freedom for only some. Juneteenth rings Freedom For All. Seeing libraries and financial institutions open today clangs the entrenchment of institutionalized racism.
Knees lifted from necks
baby steps totter long road
answers still blowin…
Frank is today’s host for dVerse’ Haibun Monday. Frank says:
Today, let’s celebrate liberation! Write a haibun that alludes to liberation, any way you conceive of it.
Tao Talk 
Awesome haibun Li! :-) just wow I’m kinda speechless about what you wrote about!
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Thank you, Carol Anne. I’m kinda speechless about it also.
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So many people still have no idea what Juneteenth is.
I renewed my books online today, but I just checked and our library is closed today.!
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I’m glad some are honoring the holiday.
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Yes–but I suppose there are different ways to honor significant events though. For instance, a library could host Juneteenth events and have books on the holiday available, and perhaps that is better than closing.
Federal holidays are strange blend of history and religion.
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Why, yes, what a good idea.
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🙂
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Very meaningful haibun.
That is a great version of the song. I’ve never heard it before. Of course, with Stevie Wonder singing, how can it not be great?
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Trent, thank you. I have the 2-disc Bob Dylan 30th anniversary set that this comes off of. The whole thing rocks with Dylan covers. Stevie breathes life into it with his commentary and of course the singing.
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Hmm, is it Chimes of Freedom? I have that but don’t remember this version. I’ll have to take a look – songs from it come up randomly on my iTunes, but I haven’t listened to it start to end in ages. Oh, I had the two disk version, but some how lost it and so the 4 disk version is what is on my iTunes.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_30th_Anniversary_Concert_Celebration
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Ah, OK, I’ll have to find that. The one I am talking about is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimes_of_Freedom_(album)
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Oh my goodness, that’s one I need to check out. Quite a list of musicians/songs and just ~10 years ago. Lots of familiar names and some new ones. I came across Silversun Pickups on pandora a few years ago and really like their sound.
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Indeed, Lisa, the struggle for liberation continues. Will those of us among the free stand in solidarity with the struggling, or not? I appreciate the direct truth-telling in your prose!
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Frank, I have hope for the young people to do so, with less for the ones who have been indoctrinated for a long time. Thank you very much. It hurts me to see these places open today as we have a rather substantial population of individual living in our community whose ancestors were slaves.
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Very interesting haibun. It is good to see even little pockets of liberation
Much💚lovd
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Thank you, Gillena <3
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Our library was closed. Evidently banks are not required to close on federal holidays but ours always do. I agree, this holiday is not yet taken seriously enough. It took awhile for MLK day to be widely celebrated, so hopefully that will happen with Juneteenth as well. (K)
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I really hope so. If the institutions charged with educating our youngsters would do their jobs instead of being afraid or under the influence of orange douchebags, it might happen a little quicker.
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Unfortunately our politicians keep making it harder for teachers to actually teach.
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Yes, still looking for answers! So well written Li.
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Sadje, thanks much, yes :(
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You’re most welcome
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I suppose the implementation of Juneteenth is still a work in progress. It’s mind-boggling to me it took until 2021 to make it a federal holiday. Perhaps not everybody has gotten the memo.
Stevie Wonder’s rendition of “Blowin’ In the Wind” is incredible and a good reminder to revisit Bobfest. It’s hard to believe that here we are, nearly 30 years later, and Zimmy is still out there performing. I think this calls for another Bobfest!
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Good comment about not everybody has gotten the memo, by choice or by purposeful blindness. That Stevie Wonder cut is off of Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary 2-disc set.
From wiki:
The 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration is a live double-album release in recognition of Bob Dylan’s 30 years as a recording artist. Recorded on October 16, 1992, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, it captures most of the concert, which featured many artists performing classic Dylan songs, before ending with three songs from Dylan himself.
Good point that another 30 years has gone by. It’s time! Who would you like to see on the next edition, doing Bob covers??
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Great question about artists for Bobfest II. I’d love to see a few younger artists like the incredibly talented Molly Tuttle or Boygenius, the indie rock super trio of Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus.
I also listened to Jay Farrar and Son Volt today and think they would be great. Last but not least, how about Blue Rodeo?
I also wouldn’t mind seeing artists who performed at the original Bobfest return like Roger McGuinn, Tracy Chapman and Chrissie Hynde, to name a few.
The question is how can we make Bobfest II happen. You and I should start a petition! :-)
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Excellent suggestions, Christian. Yes, we should, while the old man is still this side of heaven.
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Lots of places are open here in South Africa on public holidays but certainly not public libraries or any other government institution.
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I had no idea about Junteenth until I read Frank’s prompt, and even then I wasn’t sure what it was about. Now I’ve read your haibun, Lisa, I think I have a better idea. We have something called bank holidays, usually on a Monday, when libraries and banks (what’s left of them) are closed, and supermarkets are open for shorter hours.
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What grinds me is that the library has frequent “staff meeting, library closed” days, but they can’t close down one day in honor of Juneteenth? Happy you learned what Juneteenth is and what it means to those who had to wait and are still waiting for real freedom.
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Truly personalized narrative!
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Thank you, Reena.
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Odd – we didn’t have mail, no banks open either (I think), I don’t know about the library. Maybe each state sets its own rules?
There will always be prejudice… the fault of birth?
I was watching a show about the Kush… with Josh Gates.
Did you know Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt?
Have a great day!
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We had no mail either which reminded me of the holiday, which was why I was so surprised library and CU open. Each state probably does. I think any power structure with humans depends on having and “us” and “them.” Otherwise it will disintegrate as a power structure. No, I had no idea that Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt!
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I like watching Josh Gates. That particular show about the Kush (Kings) was a two parter.
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Very nicely done. It’s like the “new” Indigenous Day here. Some places are closed (mostly federal institutions) but most businesses are open. Needless to say, the Indigenous don’t love Canada Day either…
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Thanks, Dale. In MI, stores are open 365 so that is to be expected, but those institutions that operate on federal (state and local) funding should honor federal holidays. I can see why Canada’s Indigenous population don’t like Canada Day. When is Indigenous Day in Canada, and does it represent a specific event or was it randomly chosen?
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Not here. There are certain days where all is closed, Christmas, Easter, to name two. And today, June 21st, is National Indigenous Day. And good question. I’ll have to research it! I remember there being something in September. I’m a bad Canadian!
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I can’t think of a better day to have a holiday than Summer Solstice. Happy National Indigenous Day, Dale!
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True enough! :)
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I wish my work would recognize the other holidays besides the big 6…thats all we get off.
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So in the present but with the ‘answers still blowing’. Weird about the libraries being open though along with the banks!
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Yes, weird is a good word for it. It was my credit union, which is my “bank.” Maybe the real banks closed?
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It is a strange recognition of a federal holiday. My sister and I were discussing the same thing. Perfect haiku.
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Sara, thank you. It is strange for sure.
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Interesting post, Jade. Is Juneteenth just an American holiday?
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Jude, I’m not sure. I know that black people have been celebrating it forever, but it was only when Joe Biden signed it into law as a Federal Holiday that it has become recognized. I know there have been individuals who have been pushing for it to become a National Holiday for a long time. It’s about time!
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