During our holiday party this past Friday, we honored three people, two for 10 years of service and one for 25 years of service and dedication to Electro Soft.
Bill is a huge Phillies fan, so we commemorated his anniversary with a jersey.
Thanks, Bill for hanging with us for so many years. We appreciate you!
Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the #SupremeCourt of the United States, has one of the most remarkable ideological transformations in the history of American #jurisprudence. Initially finding inspiration in the militant and anti-establishment rhetoric of Malcolm X during his college years, Thomas would later be recognized as one of the most #conservative Black figures in the United States.
This narrative is rife with complexities and contradictions. At Holy Cross College, Thomas was deeply moved by Malcolm X's speeches, his resistance against systemic racism, and his advocacy for Black empowerment. Yet, Thomas's ideological trajectory did not follow the path that one might expect of a young Black man inspired by Malcolm X. Instead, he became a staunch conservative, championing limited government, originalist interpretations of the Constitution, and a color-blind society. His views have often been at odds with the mainstream thinking within Black America.
To understand this transformation, diving deep into Thomas's life and experiences is essential. How does a young man, once filled with fire and rage against the system, become a cornerstone of that very establishment? How does he reconcile his conservative philosophy with the racial realities of America? And perhaps most importantly, how does his unique ideological journey influence his decisions on the highest court in the land?
In light of all that #Juneteenth stands for, Avantia: A Family Office wants to share the story of an extraordinary man named Henry O. Flipper. Flipper was a former slave and, in 1877, became the first Black graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. From the beginning, Flipper defied the odds, and, just eight years after the end of the Civil War, Flipper VOLUNTEERED and was APPOINTED by an elected official to be part of the next cohort at West Point. It is known that adapting to West Point’s traditions is hard, perhaps much harder back then, especially for its first African-American Cadet. Nonetheless, Cadet Flipper persevered through the four years and graduated from the academy.
His story is one of immense fortitude and incredible vision. Following graduation, Lieutenant Flipper went on to become the first Black officer to serve in the Buffalo Soldiers (see comments for a link).
As a Black soldier who served on the frontier under white officers, imagine waking up and seeing LT Flipper in front of the unit. Think of what hope that gave to those men for their children and grandchildren in such a short period after the Civil War. On Monday, when we enjoy some time off, take a minute to consider this man, what he did, and what impact it has had on our nation. Then consider how many other people, like Henry O. Flipper, have risen against incredible odds to change the world. #people#change#leadershiphttps://lnkd.in/gW2Yw5UU
As a US citizen bearing the caste label of white, I'm embarrassed and appalled by the Supreme Court's decision against Affirmative Action. It's obvious our nation has harmed a group of people, Black people, through enslavement, through labeling them 3/5 human (don't tell me the Constitution is color blind), through Jim Crow practices and discrimination, through redlining, through lack of access to the GI bill, through mass incarceration, and through the constant drip-drip-drip of scientifically illiterate racist practices. How beautiful it was that we had these policies to try and right the wrongs! To eliminate this repair of Affirmative Action, and to keep legacy admissions which benefit white families in place, is impossible to respect or admire. I decry this decision and am ashamed that the white supremacists among us are continuing the harm, especially with the added kicker of: but we'll keep Affirmative Action in place for military academies so you can fight our wars for us. It's pathetic white supremacy.