I’ve asked myself what can I do, what can I still contribute when I look at myself within my limitations? Not sure that I can handle hours standing or walking on cement in protest. It seems what I could do at this point is start by writing letters. So yesterday I mailed my first letter to President-Elect Biden. I gave him my wish list of three things. 1. Green New Deal; 2. ERA; 3. a formal apology to citizens of color, directed to descendants of slaves AND all persons of color held back by institutionalized racism. And a pledge to end institutional racism. I told him while I made a choice for a moderate President, I would join progressives to push him to act on the GND. I said that he shouldn’t be surprised to see me with Jane Fonda on the steps in non-violent protest. I attached a copy of an Apology that I had written back in July 2019, (before George Floyd’s murder), to give him an example of what I meant by apology to people of color. I gave him a political history & demographic of myself so he had a POV to work from. I told him what appointments I was happy with and tried to encourage him. He may never see my letter, as the timing is bad, but I did what I could do. I may give him a report every month. It’s a beginning.
Then I wrote my local PBS, which is new to me. They have a program called Break It Down which seems aimed at educating people about race and cultures. It’s short but very informative on many aspects of difference. You can think you are “woke” and sensitive to others, non-judgmental, and informed and good intentioned, but still learn something you didn’t know, like an area where you are making ,mistakes in spite of all that. I sent them a letter of appreciation and a copy of my “Apology.” First steps, can be small. Dona