13 Comments
Apr 3, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

It is hard to see change while change is happening. Things have to settle in place before we can determine its staying power.

What we can see is that Trump enabled racism to become much more vocal and less whispered. We can see the rest of us deciding to speak up forcefully in opposition to racism and hate of any class of people. We can see many of us calling out religious enabled hate for what it is. This struggle will continue for quite a while before it reaches any equilibrium.

Expand full comment
Apr 3, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

I am hopeful. After Trump exacerbated the situation and exposed Republicans as white supremacists it was difficult to be optimistic. But the Biden administration is on a good path to improving the causes of inequality. There are also so many lovely people standing up for equality I see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Expand full comment

Our younger generation gives me hope. They are more accepting and tolerant. Also I see the community that I live in standing up for equality and justice. We have a long way to go, but I see seeds of hope We must not allow 40% of America to determine what democracy is.

Expand full comment
Apr 3, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

It’s hard for me to answer because I am very short and get discriminated against all the time because of it. I see injustice and for me there is no recourse. I have to believe justice will come. Racial injustice is still embedded in our national psyche but I think the thought we can’t go on like this is getting much stronger.

Expand full comment
Apr 3, 2021Liked by Steven Beschloss

I live in an affluent shoreline town in Connecticut. It is the kind of place with two-acre zoning. Nevertheless, during the last election cycle and still today, I have seen a large number of Black Lives Matter and similar signs all over town. Many of the churches in my area, including my own, display this and similar signs. It gives me hope.

Expand full comment

I’m going to go out on a limb here & say what I think needs to be said out loud. What has been happening for hundreds of years to people of color is horrible. As human beings it is despicable how we treat each other. At this moment in time we can no longer bury our heads in the sand because examples of our cruelty is videotaped. And hopefully, our judicial system will hold those individuals responsible. When I say “we” I mean white middle/upper class Americans. We have got to take notice & make it a priority that we will get involved. Until we stand & march with those being discriminated agst we will not see the changes we need in our country. But, we have to do more. We need to look into our hearts & formulate a plan that is compatible with your life. A few years ago, after watching another killing on tape, I made a plan. Yes, I would march and support BLM more than I had been doing. I would include companies & people to my boycott list that were harmful to total inclusion, but from that day forward, if I saw a person in an inappropriate situation, possibly involving police, I would stop what I’m doing & get involved. I would stop my car, videotape & just stick my nose in their business. Of course, go with your gut instincts, if someone is waving a gun around, that’s not the approach I would use. I discussed it with my friends, family, even my lawyer, & everyone knew if they were with me & someone could be in trouble, we were stopping, if nothing but to bear witness. Several months later, I was driving home in my neighborhood. An African American teenager, nicely dressed, was selling subscriptions, door to door. In front of me was a cop that lives a couple houses down from me. He pulled into his driveway, went across the street & confronted the kid. Unlike other cops that live in my neighborhood that are kind, helpful & incredible neighbors, this guy thinks the HOA does not apply to him, is intolerant of others & loves 45. I sat in my car, in my driveway & decided if the cop gets in his patrol car to follow the child, I would follow & offer to drive the kid home or to wherever he needed to be. This cop knew me as the retired high school teacher with the nice yard down the street, so I felt I could intervene if need be. The cop went back to his car, turned it off & went into the house. I pulled into the garage but stayed outside until the child was no longer in view. I felt responsible for that human being. I wanted that kid to make it home, safely. Racism is not going to die in this nation until a majority of white Americans stand up, take a knee, and refuse to allow anyone to treat another American, regardless of their color, gender, etc., the way they have/ are being treated at this moment. We have to pick a side. Either you’re for treating others inhumanely or you’re not. We will never have the democracy we want until we solve the racism problem in America. And, I feel, that rests on white Americans. We must demand judicial equality. We must be louder, more boisterous than racist Americans. We can no longer be polite. People are dying in the streets. It’s time to make a plan.

Expand full comment

It's painful to see the way things are compared to the way they should be. After four years of increased propaganda- prejudice is worn as a badge of honor by too many. State and federal

elected officials continue to advocate the suppression of our most precious right as citizens - the right to vote. Our government reflects who we are. A mirror of our tainted morality and lack of common decency. A great deal of "good trouble" is needed.

Expand full comment