Fireworks & Fury: Reflecting On A Very Different Fourth

Also: Summer without a July 4th concert; is it safe to dine indoors? ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [View in Browser]( | [Donate]( [WBUR] [WBUR]( The WBUR Weekender July 4, 2020 ☀️ Today's Weather: Morning clouds turn to sun, with highs in the 70s. Good morning, Happy 4th of July! This holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence, but this year’s celebrations feel different for a number of reasons. - The annual Boston Pops July 4th concert and fireworks on the Esplanade has been canceled this year. That means instead of fireworks we'll be watching a [pre-recorded Pops July 4th compilation broadcast]( tonight. It also means conductor Keith Lockhart will be celebrating down at the Cape (and I'm pretty jealous). - The Fourth of July also comes amid another crushing wave of the pandemic, an economic depression, a national reckoning on racism and the most divisive presidential campaign in modern history. To capture the complexity of the moment, our opinions team published [a series of mini essays (available to read or listen).]( you read one thing today, read this. - Looking for something to do? [Here are a few events]( that will not only help you think about how far we have actually come as a democracy, but also how far we have to go to bring all Americans the freedom we were promised. - Don't miss: Watch this [short film]( featuring five young descendants of Frederick Douglass reading and responding to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" P.S.– If you're celebrating the Fourth at home this weekend, here are [a couple summertime cocktails]( to try. No shakers needed. — Meagan McGinnes newsletters@wbur.org This Week's Must Reads url[Fireworks Are Fun. But The Noise And Pollution, Not So Much]( All those fireworks people are setting off? They can be bad for your health and the environment. [Read more.]( [How Mass. Breweries Keep The Suds Flowing During A Pandemic]( With beer taps mostly dry for several months, local brewers have been canning like crazy. But keeping the little aluminum vessels in stock hasn't been easy. [Read more.]( [Buckle Up (And Bring A Mask): Driving Schools Restart In A Pandemic]( As driving schools reopen, the Registry of Motor Vehicles says it is working through a backlog of about 7,000 road tests that had to be postponed during the pandemic. [Read more.]( [Why COVID-19 Contact Tracers In Mass. Will Send You Milk]( In Massachusetts, people who have tested positive for the coronavirus or been exposed to COVID-19 get help with everything from groceries to legal assistance, whatever it takes so they can stay put and avoid infecting anyone else. [Read more.]( ➡️ En Español: [Qué papel juega el Massachusetts Community Tracing Collaborative en la batalla contra el COVID-19]( [Study: Black Renters In Boston Face Deep Discrimination. Subsidized Renters Face Even More]( Researchers said Black renters experienced discrimination, mostly at the hands of real estate agents, in 71% of cases — while Section 8 renters faced discrimination regardless of race in 86% of cases. [Read more.]( Catch Up On Coronavirus Coronavirus FAQs: Is It Safe To Dine Indoors — Or Outdoors? Want a relaxing meal at a restaurant but have some concerns? Here are some points to consider. [Read more.]( From The Archives Opinion: As A Black American, I Don't Celebrate The Fourth Of July What, to us, is the Fourth of July when our freedoms are consistently infringed upon by a government meant to uphold those very freedoms? What does the Fourth of July actually stand for? [Read more.]( Before you go: May your breakfast be [filled with chocolate chips](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](. Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2020 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](