Black lives matter
A Beaconite is a first-generation Asian American in a family of immigrants. Her elders came to the United States in the 1980s, worked hard and settled down. They raised all of their children to value education, hard work and family above all else. To understand her ancestors’ history, the reporter minored in Asian American studies during her undergraduate career at the University of Connecticut. She began to understand the struggles that Asians faced in the United States: how they helped build the railroads, their role in the civil rights movement, and who they associated with during their years as immigrants. One thing that stood out to her was research showing that Asian Americans typically would either choose “whiteness” or “blackness” (those were the terms used when she was studying the history). So many chose to keep their heads down instead of speaking out against injustice. They remained silent and focused only on building a better future for their families. But she believes that now is the time that first-generation Asian Americans like her need to help educate their parents on why the Black Lives Matter movement is so crucial to the US and the entire world, including the Virgin Islands. The slave trade has affected so many parts of the world, and its effects are still felt in the present day. For enslaved people who were kidnapped and brought to this hemisphere, freedom was never an option. They and their descendants had to fight to free themselves, to demand equal opportunity, to demand equal treatment, and to feel safe and protected in an economy and society that they built. Some in the VI might argue that the fight is not theirs. But this reporter disagrees. She believes this fight affects the entire world. It is a fight against the lasting and devastating effects of colonialism. The fight to feel safe wherever you live, no matter who you are, includes so many people. The reporter urges everyone to read as much history as possible to understand the generational struggles of people all over the world. Just as people have seen how interconnected they are during this global pandemic, they can also see how interconnected they are in many other ways.
New car
After 11 months of hitchhiking and a failed attempt to buy a moped from a friend, a Beaconite has finally bought a jeep. It is the first car he has ever owned, and he was quite pleased with the vehicle he found and the price he paid. During the weeks when he was searching for a car, he was surprised by how many vehicles were being sold and by how quickly they were being scooped up. Several times, he had made plans to inspect a car only to have someone else put down a payment before he could finalise the arrangements. He feels lucky to come across the deal that he did. Though there are a few exterior blemishes and some other minor imperfections, the jeep runs smoothly and handles well. And besides, he has long wanted to improve his mechanical IQ, and welcomes the chance to do so while sprucing up his new ride.
Overreach?
A Beaconite intends to continue calling attention to what she feels is government overreach in relation to the Covid-19 crisis. This week, she notes that the territory has been under some form of curfew for nearly three months. The Beaconite believes that the curfew is no longer serving its purpose and should be ended. By now, it’s safe to say that no one enjoys it, and many residents are not complying with it, leading to the likelihood of more encounters between residents and police that could end in violence, as some already have. The curfew is also hurting businesses, like bars and food trucks, that operate at night, and she sees no compelling health or safety purpose to it anymore. There are no known cases of Covid-19 in the territory, and even if someone did have it, the virus spreads as easily during the day as it does at night. Government, meanwhile, has not announced a definitive date for ending the curfew, nor any requirements that must be met first. Yes, the curfew probably does “make policing easier,” as one friend put it. But there is crime all the time, so why not have a curfew all the time? The answer, of course, is that no one wants to give up their freedom. So why are they giving it up now?