On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that the addition of a new federal holiday to recognize Juneteenth. The Juneteenth holiday was commemorated in African-American communities throughout United States history.  However outside of black communities there were lots of questions following the President's announcement as to the meaning and significance of this holiday.  President Biden's announcement also followed the Senate unanimously passing the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 15, 2021.  The holiday name derives from June and Nineteenth and is referred to as a portmanteau or a blend of words.  The holiday celebrates the Emancipation of slaves in states in rebellion against the Union on June 19, 1865 which is the date slaves in Texas were proclaimed free.Recent hot topics such as the detention and trial in Russia of WNBA star Brittney Griner in Russia on cannabis oil possession charges as well as the ongoing controversy related to the August 28, 1955 murder of 14 year old Emmett Till in Mississippi following charges that were later proved to be based on false and contradictory testimony.  The accuser Carolyn Bryant as well as the people who murdered Emmett have never been brought to justice.  Jessica is joined in this episode by her high school classmates and life long friends Dr. Natasha Greene and Margaux Johnson.  Dr. Natasha Greene works with the federal government and has provided mentorship and motivational/consulting services.  Margaux relocated following high school and now resides in Georgia where she has rose through the ranks in various companies in accounting and financial roles in a variety of companies requiring domestic and international travel. She is now a division controller and has over 15 years in the manufacturing industry.   Both Natasha and Margaux attended historically black universities.

In this episode we discuss:

1) Dr. Natasha Greene's educational and career path;2) Margaux's educational path and rise through the ranks in corporate America;3) The high school experience Margaux, Natasha and Jessica had in high school at a magnet school with high rankings located in a historically black community in West Fresno;4) Natasha and Margaux's experience attending historically black colleges and in Natasha's case graduate school at Howard University in Washington D.C.;5) The significance of Juneteeth's recognition as a federal holiday o Natasha and Margaux as black women;6) What Natasha and Margaux's families did to recognize the holiday long before it was a federal holiday;7) The Allensworth community south of Fresno, California near Earlimart in Tulare County established exclusively by African-Americans in 1908;8) The Brittney Griner prolonged detention and current trial in Russia on cannibis oil possession charges9) Whether Brittney Griner's case was long ignored in mainstream media as a female athlete;10 ) Whether Brittney Griner may be a political prisoner of the Putin regime in Russia;11) The Emmett Till ongoing controversy. and the unserved warrant against his accuser whose story has changed substantially throughout the years since his death:12) The significance for African-Americans and Americans in general that Emmett Till's murder and the related arguably shifting story by his accuser have both been met with impunity.13) The impact of movements to silence the voices seeking to teach United States history from all perspectives without leaving out the accomplishments of African-Americans or erasing systemic and institutional realities that they faced throughout U.S. history.

BIOGRAPHIES

JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)

Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an immigration and human rights lawyer with 20 years experience.  She has also worked as a law professor and expert witness and served as an attorney, director and  board member for various immigration and human rights non-profit organizations.  She has also served as a media source and commentator.  Jessica can be contacte