Time flies: It’s been five years since June 19, aka Juneteenth, was made a federal holiday in the U.S. The commemoration itself goes back to this date in 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally got the news of the Emancipation Proclamation and, thus, their freedom. Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have also adopted Juneteenth as a paid legal holiday — see if yours is one of them.
Betsy Ross’ sewing table is now on public display, thanks to her great-great-great-great grandson
Humanity
After a Big Move, the Home Where MLK Planned the Selma Marches Is Open for Tours
The Henry Ford
The home where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders planned the Selma-to-Montgomery marches — the events that led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — is now located more than 1,000 miles away from its original plot of land. In 2022, owner Jawana Jackson contacted The Henry Ford museum complex about moving the entire bungalow-style home from Alabama to Dearborn, Michigan, to amplify its reach. She lived in the house with her family (pictured here) and was 4 years old when King, a longtime friend of her parents, stayed there. “I knew that the house deserved many more eyes to see it, and people to touch it. History is portable,” she told Smithsonian magazine. And she was right. Not long after she reached out, The Henry Ford spearheaded the moving process, which involved tediously cataloging, deconstructing, transporting, and rebuilding the historic structure in Greenfield Village, the open-air section of the museum. As of last weekend, visitors can now tour the home and see the bedroom where King slept, as well as the dining room table where activists, politicians, and other leaders discussed march plans. “I’m hoping that this house will add to the narrative, the history, the story that Greenfield Village tells about America, and how we are our strongest when we all come together,” Jackson said. See what it looks like inside and out.
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“Toy Story 5” Hits the Big Screen, More Than 30 Years After the Original
Copyright by Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios/MovieStillsDB
Do you remember when the first Toy Story premiered? It was 1995 — the same year that brought us Apollo 13, Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, and the first Sony PlayStation. A lot has changed in the world since then, and from what we know about Toy Story 5 (out today!) — a lot has changed for the beloved cast of characters, too. Per the trailer, Woody is balding and there’s a new techy toy giving analog playmates a run for their money. But despite all that’s changed over the past three decades or so, the Toy Story universe has an enduring power to captivate people across generations — whether the new film is your first introduction to Woody and Buzz Lightyear or you consider them old pals. And according to Tom Hanks, who voices Woody, it may be worth packing some tissues if you plan to see it in theaters. “We’ve been looking at each other during screenings with tears in our eyes,” Hanks said during an ABC interview with castmate Tim Allen, who voices Buzz. Take a look back at the legacy of Toy Story, which, fun fact, almost didn’t make it to the big screen all those years ago.
Environment
Tiny Forests May Be a Big Way to Fight Climate Change
SUGi Project
There are numerous strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change, including transitioning to clean energy and prioritizing forestry management. A lesser-known but growing trend? Tiny forests. Established in the 1970s by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, the Miyawaki method allows 350 plants of different varieties to be placed into a plot the size of six parking spaces. Per WBUR, supporters of the method believe the resulting thicket supercharges biodiversity, enriches the soil, and soaks up carbon emissions. These tiny forests have sprouted up across the world — in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and, most recently, at a high school in Attleboro, Massachusetts, which installed one next to an underused baseball field. “I want to place a different variety of tree or plant in each hole,” said sophomore Sydney Battle, who was among the volunteers that planted 550 saplings last month. While some scientists say they’ve found little evidence that the method is better at capturing carbon or increasing biodiversity than other forestry methods, it hasn’t stopped communities from investing in it. According to Andrew Putnam, the superintendent of urban forestry and landscapes in nearby Cambridge, it’s “by far the most well-received urban forestry program we have.” His city has installed numerous tiny forests (one of which is pictured above), with the goal of planting 1,250 trees each year to improve residents’ quality of life. Learn how to grow your own.
Global Good
🇨🇳 The soaring popularity of EVs in China is linked to over 260,000 fewer premature deaths from air pollution (read more)
🇬🇧 NorthernIreland’s Giant’s Causeway likely formed much more quickly than previously thought (read more)
🇹🇼 A group of Indigenous Taiwanese revived a dormant maritime route while canoeing to the Philippines (read more)
🏴 Paddington The Musicalis headed to Broadway after a record-breaking run in London — learn its debut date (read more)
🇲🇽 For the first time, an elusive dwarf fox on the brink of extinctionwas photographed on a Mexican island (read more)
Inspiring Story
A veteran earns his stripes
Six decades ago, Charley Whaley dropped out of high school to serve in the Vietnam War. But a conversation he had with his college-aged grandson a few years ago inspired Whaley to pursue a college degree. “I wanted to see if I could do it,” the 81-year-old Navy veteran said. “And I did.” On May 14, Whaley graduated from Georgia Highlands College with an associate of arts in criminal justice. “Never stop desiring to know something over the horizon,” he said. “Always grasp and be eager to learn this subject.”
Photo of the Day
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Obama Presidential Center officially opens to the public today. Dedicated to the lives and legacies of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, the $850 million campus spans nearly 20 acres in Jackson Park on Chicago’s South Side. The centerpiece is an eight-story museum that houses four floors of exhibits, a full-size replica of the Oval Office, campaign memorabilia, and presidential artifacts. Other campus highlights include several public spaces, including a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, a basketball court, and picnic areas: Take a peek inside.
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Up This Weekend
Juneteenth: As noted above, today is Juneteenth — revisit PBS’ beginner’s guide to celebrating the holiday
U.S. Open: The golf major, hosted by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, began yesterday and runs through Sunday (here’s how to watch)
Father’s Day: Are you cooking for a Father’s Day gathering on Sunday? In a recent edition of her newsletter, Ina Garten recommended making her deconstructed strawberry shortcake for dessert, and we’re not ones to argue with the Barefoot Contessa
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