Window of Opportunity

I was allowed to look through a window of a culture this month. I didn’t just show up today; I have been showing up for years, or at least I thought so. But this year I had more curiosity because of the climate of our country as a result of the election. I took the opportunity to photograph and cover various Black History Month events and to have a conversation with anyone who would talk to me. I had some one-on-one time with a few revered leaders in our area. We talk about where we thought our country was headed 8 years ago, 4 years ago, a year ago and now. Sometimes the chasm was immense. 

As a white girl I had been experiencing a white-wash effect of racial acceptance. For the black friends I was interviewing, even with a black president and the seemingly (to me) huge strides toward equality, they were seeing very little difference. Eyeopener. They knew all along. 

When I look back in our country’s history, and how people have been treated based on the color of skin, I am disgusted and frustrated. My friends are not looking back, they just look ahead and stay the course with patience and dignity.

“Things do change but they are changing real slow. You’ve got to have good patience.”

[Although Tuesday ends the official Black History Month, look for my interviews with attendees and supporters of the Richard Allen School Coalition as well as more photos of St. George AME History and African Fashion Celebration and a story about  Friendship Baptist Church’s 60th Anniversary Celebration.]