Tales
Anger and Hope
The murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests were the catalyst to some important first-time discussions in our family.
In much more focused ways than before, we delved into topics of racial discrimination, race and class privilege, generational inequality, compounding of benefits, unconscious bias, and many of the unfair ways the system is stacked against people of color in our country. Drawing on some excellent online videos, we directed education and discussions and tried to help the girls better understand this important historical and present-day tragedy.
When the protests came to our area there were evening curfews, but over one weekend there was a family protest march around Lake Merritt in Oakland. It honestly was the first time during the pandemic that we ventured out and mixed with other families. We all met at the home of Will and Rachel to make signs, and then we biked down to Oakland on a beautiful sunny day to join the thousands of peaceful marchers making their way around the lake.
After months of seeing no one but PoPo and YeYe from a distance, being in a crowd of motivated chanting protesters was a powerful experience. There was a mood of anger and defiance in the air, but to me the presence of all the families and children somehow added a large measure hope for a better future.
There was a lot we were hoping for: a government that acknowledges racial inequality. A president that doesn’t stoke racial violence by using white supremacist dog whistles. A future with more justice.
