Guest column: Juneteenth and the fight against an inclusive history - By Meshayla Cox and Chris Young-Greer, Guest columnists

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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This is another leftist activism organization given a platform by the Chronicle. We previously commented on another leftist activism organization given space by the Chronicle. Astonishingly, the two organizations are connected. Even more astonishing, the Bozeman Public Library is in the mix.

These sorts of incestuous relationships are part of the strategy. The idea is to make it seem like it's a giant coalition of people, part of a popular movement where everyone is getting on board. But in actual fact it's a handful of discontented people sitting in someone's basement with an internet connection and a laptop.)

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Last week, the Senate unanimously passed a bill to make Juneteenth, the day that marked the day newly freed peoples in Texas learned of the end of enslavement in the United States on June 19, 1865, a federal holiday. Here, in Montana Juneteenth has been recognized through a calendar observance on the third Saturday in June as Juneteenth National Freedom Day since 2017.

The national recognition, (This national recognition is nothing more than symbolism. It changes no situation, affects no lives, and solves no problem.)

however, comes at a time when conservative lawmakers across the U.S. are waging war over the teaching of an inclusive American history that grapples with the effects of slavery and white supremacy in our nation. (No, the opposition is widespread, diverse, and thoughtful, and has nothing to do with white supremacy.)

As much as critical race theory works to recognize systemic racism, (There is no such thing as "systemic racism." It is an invention designed to make the effects of slavery unsolvable. The end goal is to dismantle the system and install another system.)

so does Juneteenth. Both offer a critical analysis of our history. (No, CRT invents history for the sake of holding present-day whites eternally guilty for the nation's past sins.)

It is a historical fact that Black people were sold and traded like cattle and exploited for labor in the United States for over 400 years. (No one disputes this.)

It is a historical fact that Black people contributed to over 60% of the nation’s wealth while being paid only in lashes. (No, this isn't possible. In 1850 there was a peak of 3.2 million slaves in the US, which constituted 13.9% of the population. 13.9% of the population cannot produce 60% of the nation's wealth.)

It is a historical fact that after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, enslaved people in Texas were not told of their freedom until two years later on June 19, 1865. (Possibly true, but not terribly important that the news got delayed by 2 years.)

These facts serve as a baseline for understanding our current racial inequities and the effects of systemic racism.

Critical race theory exposes systemic racism. It addresses how policies and laws perpetuate racism in the nation’s history and how racism is woven into the fabric of this nation. (None of this is true. Systems require active input from those who control the system. So unless the ones in charge of the system are maintaining racism, then the system is not racist. There are Democrat majorities in both houses of Congress, and a Democrat President. So that would mean the Democrats are racist for perpetuating a racist system.)

It’s not about indicting individuals, but the system as a whole. (Didn't the authors begin by blaming conservatives, implying they are white supremacists? 

And as we have mentioned, the system is deemed the problem, or more precisely, the obstacle to be dismantled in favor of the author's preferred system.)

We do not live in a colorblind society (Yes we do.)

and the perpetuation of that diabolical lie prevents us from doing what is necessary and long overdue in the area of equitable work and teaching in school curriculums. (Ahh. Here it is. The general lack of racism is definitely a problem for CRT. America is indeed largely unconcerned about a person's skin color, and that is a huge issue for the race hustlers. They are therefore forced to create a useful issue so as to foment discontent in black communities. This is in order to stir up discord and recruit activists for their cause. 

This is a time tested technique to pit the proletariat against the bourgeois in order to overthrow the bourgeois and take form them what rightly belongs to the proletariat. CRT, aka agitprop, is simply one tool.)

Under the current attack on critical race theory, (Disagreement and opposition is deemed an "attack.")

it would be illegal to teach about the significance of the newly passed federal holiday. (We sincerely doubt this. Of course we recognize that agitprop doesn't have to be true.)

While making Juneteenth a national holiday is long overdue, it doesn’t fix the gaping wound of exclusion and racism that continues to be so pervasive in this country. (The authors finally get around to acknowledging the holiday doesn't do anything.)

A Band-Aid show of acknowledgment does not stop the hemorrhaging of systemic racism. (A problem asserted, now trumpeted, that has yet to be proven.)

In Montana, Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen decried critical race theory as “un-American” and a “rewriting of our nation’s history.” What Arntzen fails to admit is that history has been selectively and purposefully written to exclude the voices, contributions, notable achievements, perspectives, and lived experiences of Black voices. (Which of course has nothing to do with CRT. And of course history is written by historians. Who else would write it?

And, why should people like the authors be permitted to rewrite history to suit their own tastes. What qualifies them to selectively and purposefully edit history?)

What is “un-American” is the blatant erasure of these Americans who helped build this nation, yet are not adequately represented historically in it. (The authors appeal to Americanism. Obviously this means they have a concept regarding patriotism, which the Left typically abhors, labeling it as jingoism. 

But isn't the problem the system known as America? The authors appeal to Americanism but reject Americanism as racist. Whaaat?)

Juneteenth is an example of the idealistic expectation of what America is supposed to embody — equality and freedom. (Another appeal to American principles, the very principles that the authors seek to replace.)

It tells us a story of inclusion, of the importance of telling the full story, not just the parts that are comfortable and digestible to white people. (Utter nonsense. Hundreds of thousands of whites fought and died to end slavery. The nations has faced its demons and cast them out. CRT seeks to ignore this in favor of a never-ending guilt assigned to a system. The system is guilty. Repentance, then, is rejected because it isn't possible.)

Since the federal recognition of Juneteenth, many anti-racism educators and activists have spoken out about the hypocrisy of signing the bill into law during a time when states and lawmakers are pushing voter suppression laws through various states. (Leftist agitprop. This is about voter ID laws. Requiring people to prove their identity in order to vote is eminently reasonable.)

This is the type of systemization of oppression that CRT seeks to address. (While it is probably true that CRT seeks to address things, we can guarantee it doesn't seek to solve anything.)

Juneteenth marks enslaved peoples’ emancipation from chattel slavery and for that we celebrate. Juneteenth also recognizes the continued legal discrimination of Black folks in our country and for that, we do the work. (The authors level charge after charge, but never document or illustrate any of them. What legal discrimination do blacks face? Name one law that states blacks cannot do something.)

Black people have celebrated Juneteenth for 156 years and we will continue to lift up our culture and voices. If you aren’t Black, this day along with the other 364 should be dedicated to dismantling racism. This is non-negotiable in progressing Black liberation. (Finally we get to the revelation of where these authors are coming from. Their position is non-negotiable, which means that you are not allowed to disagree with them. CRT cannot be debated. Their point of view allows no dissent, no discussion, no criticism. 

This is the language of tyrants and haters.)

We at The Montana Racial Equity Project will continue to fight against racist policies, exclusion, and violence against people of color. Not only in creed but in action and education. We are dedicated to creating a more equitable and inclusive society that values all members of our communities, especially the most marginalized. No racist ideologies, legislation, or threats will stop us from doing this very important work, not like our lives depend on it but because our lives depend on it.

Meshayla Cox is the racial equity and justice consultant at the Montana Racial Equity Project. Chris Young-Greer is the organization’s education reform lead.