Are Black freedom lessons being locked out of America's schools?

+ Biden to court Modi US Edition - Today's top story: Juneteenth offers new ways to teach about slavery, Black perseverance and American history [View in browser]( US Edition | 19 June 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Why the Southern Baptist Convention voted to expel congregations with women pastors]( - [Will everyday Saudis ever embrace golf?]( - [Understanding the potent flavors and wide-ranging health benefits of spices]( Lead story When I was growing up in Milwaukee, one of my favorite events was the annual Juneteenth celebration. It included a parade and took place on a street now known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. I have vivid memories of a stilt walker wearing an African mask, a group known as the Black Cowboys riding horses down the street, and the radiant smiles of young girls who would vie for the honor of wearing a royal sash emblazoned with the words “Miss Juneteenth.” For eats, you could buy roasted corn on the cob. And there was always a plethora of musical performances. Even though Milwaukee has a long-standing tradition of celebrating Juneteenth – a commemoration of June 19, 1865, the day when Union troops notified the last slaves in Texas that they were free – I never learned anything about the holiday in school. Raphael E. Rogers, a Clark University professor who specializes in teaching about slavery, says it doesn’t have to be that way. He explains how the holiday – and the celebration of freedom that it represents – [could be featured more prominently]( in history lessons in America’s schools. [[Journalism that provides history and context is made possible by readers like you.](] Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor Freedom is a key concept to study. Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images [Juneteenth offers new ways to teach about slavery, Black perseverance and American history]( Raphael E. Rogers, Clark University Many students say they aren’t learning much about slavery beyond its harsh conditions. A historian explores how Juneteenth offers opportunities to change that reality. Politics + Society - [Mr. Modi comes to Washington – The Indian prime minister’s visit could strengthen ties with the US, but also raises some delicate issues]( Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University; Larry Diamond, Stanford University The Biden administration is courting Indian leader Narendra Modi in part to deter China’s rise. But India’s decline in democracy could complicate relations. - [Juneteenth, Jim Crow and how the fight of one Black Texas family to make freedom real offers lessons for Texas lawmakers trying to erase history from the classroom]( Jeffrey L. Littlejohn, Sam Houston State University; Zachary Montz, Sam Houston State University For the formerly enslaved Black people in Texas, Juneteenth meant more than freedom. It meant reuniting families and building schools and developing political power. - [Fascism lurks behind the dangerous conflation of the terms ‘partisan’ and ‘political’]( Lawrence Torcello, Rochester Institute of Technology When everything is seen as political – indictments, Supreme Court decisions, scientific findings – a democracy may be on its way to fascism. - [Watered-down LGBTQ ‘understanding’ bill shows how far Japan’s parliament is out of step with its society – and history]( Sabine Frühstück, University of California, Santa Barbara Japan has a rich queer history and is seeing societal changes in favor of greater LGBTQ recognition. That said, national politicians have yet to catch up. - [There are 20 emancipation days in the U.S. – and the history of how emancipated people were kept unfree needs to be remembered, too]( Kris Manjapra, Tufts University Known as Juneteenth in Texas, Emancipation Days symbolized America’s attempt to free the enslaved across the nation. But those days were unable to prevent new forms of economic slavery. Arts + Culture - [Big money bought the PGA Tour, but can it make golf a popular sport in Saudi Arabia?]( Josh Woods, West Virginia University History is filled with stories of business magnates taking big financial risks on the next big sports sensation. But emerging sports are more like social movements than business enterprises. - [Cormac McCarthy’s fearless approach to writing]( Bill Hardwig, University of Tennessee The Pulitzer Prize-winning author was always willing to experiment with his prose, pacing and narration, crafting an oeuvre that varied wildly in style and structure. - [How Black Americans combated racism from beyond the grave]( David B. Parker, Kennesaw State University Tombstones that used the honorifics ‘Mr.’ and ‘Mrs.’ restored a sense of dignity to people who had been denied it in life. Ethics + Religion - [Southern Baptists expel churches with women pastors – but the debate’s not just about gender]( Andrew Gardner, Baylor University In Southern Baptist history, rules on women and sexuality are often entwined. A scholar writes about the first congregation to be expelled from the SBC over LGBTQ+ issues - [‘Courage is contagious’: Daniel Ellsberg’s decision to release the Pentagon Papers didn’t happen in a vacuum]( Christian Appy, UMass Amherst The Vietnam War whistleblower, who died on June 16, 2023, wrestled with his decision to leak thousands of pages of government documents. Environment + Energy - [How do spices get their flavor?]( Beronda L. Montgomery, Grinnell College Humans have figured out how to season their food with virtually every part of plants. 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