On today’s episode of 5 Things: It’s Memorial Day. Americans are reflecting and honoring the people who have passed away while wearing their uniforms. It’s been 100 years since a white mob attacked and brutalized a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Hit play on the podcast player above and read along with the transcript below.
Shannon Green:
Good morning. I’m Shannon Rae Green and this is 5 Things You Need to Know Monday, the 31st of May 2021. I’m filling in for Taylor Wilson, who will be back hosting the show tomorrow. Today, it’s been exactly 100 years since a white mob attacked and destroyed a thriving Black community in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is a tragedy that has far-reaching consequences today and into the future. Plus, it’s Memorial Day. We hear from a soldier reflecting on how he honors fellow members of the military, who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Here are some of the top headlines.
Shannon Green:
100 years ago Monday, the Tulsa race massacre destroyed a community of 10,000 people. It’s one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. A white mob attacked residents of the city’s affluent Greenwood neighborhood that was home to a business district known as “Black Wall Street.” While the true death toll may never be known, it is estimated that hundreds were killed and injured. A century later, the legacy of that weekend is still being felt. After being reduced to whispers and left out of history books for decades, the victims’ stories are being told. Take a look at all our coverage at reparations.ustoday.com, and don’t miss the Sunday episode of the 5 Things podcast. You can find that right here on this feed. It features an interview with Ohio State University Economics Professor Trevor Logan. He talks with Claire Thornton about what reparations could fix for people whose lives were upended by the Tulsa massacre.
Shannon Green:
Memorial Day weekend is often considered the unofficial start to summer. While it got off to a frosty start for many in the Northeast, millions of Americans hit the road despite the pandemic and a rise in gas prices. This holiday may offer a semblance of normalcy. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky gave the OK for vaccinated Americans to “enjoy your Memorial Day.” Memorial Day is a federal holiday that exists to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers who died in uniform. USA TODAY video journalist Jarrad Henderson connected with Specialist Stuart while he placed flags in front of headstones in Arlington National Cemetery.
Specialist Stuart:
My cousin had served in Vietnam, and he was one of the reasons that I joined, so sometimes I look out to see the years. And then also you want to look out for a Medal of Honor recipient. It’s more than just putting a flag in the ground, because some of us wouldn’t be here or we would be growing up in a different America without them. So, I definitely look out for that. Remember no matter how hard it gets, I guess, the rough times that we go through, these people that died saw America for what it really is.
Shannon Green:
Stuart was one of over 1,000 joint service members who gathered to place flags in front of 260,000 headstones ahead of Memorial Day. Authorities in South Florida are continuing to search for suspects after two people died and at least 20 others were injured in a shooting early Sunday. Police said the gunfire erupted at the El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami Dade County. Miami Dad Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III said that three people came out of an SUV and opened fire on the crowd outside. Camping World CEO and TV personality Marcus Lemonis expressed his support for a search, tweeting that he was offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities “arrest and convict the suspect or suspects.” As of Sunday afternoon, police had not released the names of the victims.
Shannon Green:
After four-time Grand Slam Champion Naomi Osaka emerged victorious in her first-round matchup against Patricia Maria Tig, afterward, Osaka did not speak to the media as she indicated earlier in the week. She was subsequently fined $15,000 and the French Open warned, “She would be exposing herself to possible further code of conduct infringement consequences.” Osaka could be subject to being kicked out of the tournament and “trigger a major offense investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions.” Before the tournament, Osaka announced she would not be speaking to media, saying that it was a mental health issue, which creates a self doubt with players who are forced to talk to the media after a loss. The French Open resumes Monday, including a matchup featuring seventh-seeded Serena Williams, who will face Irina-Camelia Begu.
Shannon Green:
They gave birth and loved their children, and they want to remind you not all pregnant people are women. Transgender and non-binary people give birth, and many want to see more gender-neutral language in law and medicine. You’re about to hear from Tristan Reese, who is a transgender man who gave birth to a son in 2017. He says this language is a positive shift towards inclusivity.
Tristan Reece:
And so we wanted to grow our family and it ended up actually being the most straightforward way to do it would be to just do it ourselves biologically. You good, or no?
Child:
Hot.
Tristan Reece:
It’s hot? That’s not iced tea. I’m supposed to put ice in it.
Child:
No, not-
Tristan Reece:
While my goal for my pregnancy was to be the most boring pregnancy that any one of my providers had ever encountered, which they thought was hilarious, because I was the only man that they’d ever encountered who’d had a baby. It was just the happiest moment of my whole life. I’d never been in a room when a baby was born before, and so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But when they held him up into the light and we got to hear him make his first cry for the first time, it was probably the most profound and powerful and miraculous moment of my whole life. The reality is hundreds and maybe thousands of transgender people like me have given birth all over the world over the last at least 21 years that we know of.
Tristan Reece:
And I think what most people don’t understand is when supportive protections that are in place that say that they’re for pregnant women, obviously people like me are supposed to be included, right? It’s for anyone who has a baby, even if you don’t happen to be a woman who’s doing so. Well you know, families like mine, like ours, transgender families, LGBT families, we want the same things that everyone else does. We want time off to take care of our kids when they get sick or to have our kids if they’re being born. We want a chance to work hard and put a roof over our heads and to be in a community of support.
Tristan Reece:
And unfortunately, the systems just haven’t kept up for families like ours. [To child]: In a strong voice he says, “I will tell you a story.” Even though obviously the spirit of the law is, it’s to make sure that families start off on the right foot, right? It’s to make sure that people have time to heal and bond with their children and lay that strong foundation for a lifetime of familial love and support. And so when we just make this small shift from pregnant to pregnant people or just pregnancy in general, it just means that no one is going to be able to make it harder for me to get access to care when I’m pregnant or when I’m in labor and delivery or when I’m going in to try and get services for my family. What we usually find is when you use inclusive language for one community, more people than you would ever imagine then also get to have some of those basic protections that, quite frankly, everyone should have.
Shannon Green:
As always, tell us what you’re thinking about the show. You can tweet us @usatodaypodcast. 5 Things is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Podcast. If you like the show, drop us five stars or a review if you have a second. A big thanks to Taylor Wilson and Claire Thornton for their dedicated work on the show. 5 Things is part of the USA TODAY Network.
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