Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Jackie R Walters's avatar

Hello, Baratunde. I'm a little white lady. I started public school the year schools were integrated in our small town in Kentucky. To the credit of my parents and our teachers, I didn't know this for years afterward. Nobody made a big deal out of it, to my knowledge. I became aware of racism as I got older, but I was able to maintain friendships with my black classmates. One of my two best friends was black, and was the valedictorian of our class. Still a lifetime friend. I loved this last piece you wrote because you spoke of the possibility of the oppressed finding their own joy, independent of the actions of others. I'm also glad you spoke of the weariness associated with tragedy after tragedy. Even from a place of relative privilege, I'm beginning to feel shell-shocked and to lose optimism about the promise of America. I also feel less hopeful about my ability to become part of the solution. But you, Baratunde, bring me hope. You're the kind of person I'd love to have to dinner. Please keep on speaking your truth with love, and finding your own joy, and sharing it with all of us. Know that people of all colors and stations in life have hospitality for you in our hearts.

Expand full comment
Martha Ture's avatar

Dear Baratunde,

1. I want to tell you something. Black people have saved the United States from total ignominy. If

we the people of the United States of America have any moral standing, in our own eyes and in the eyes of the world, it is because of times when people of color represent us.

I'm not talking only about leaders. I'm looking at the masses of people who turn out, who show up, in the kitchen, in the church, in the street, in the voting booth, who get up every single time and stand in front of the cameras so the world can see the people who are what we're talking about. And because we're a visual world, the fact of being Not White, of being Black, Brown, Red, Colorful, makes everybody see - look, there're the Americans!

If you want to stir people in their souls, make people want to do right, be something other than consumers, you have to show the people moral courage that winds up in law and in national behavior. We're still going to be fighting that war until the planet dies. Two choices: fight or don't.

2. Jim and I are just down the road in Massachuchu; week of March 5-9 we'll be in NYC, listening to jazz, looking at art, dining and etc.. PM me if you can hook up.

Expand full comment
7 more comments...

No posts