‘Important change’

Dear Editor:

I was out walking this morning when I noticed a simple, handmade sign in the second storey window of a home that said, “Black Lives Matter”. My 18-year-old granddaughter and I talk about this a lot. She has the passion, energy and heart of many her age. Social injustice hurts her deeply.

For my part I can read about the history of racism, become better informed and advocate for change and action now. Many of the earlier lessons I learned in school and in a largely white society have left me poorly informed.

James Baldwin was, and is, a recognized, respected black author of many acclaimed books, including I Am Not Your Negro, which sometime in the last decade was made into a movie/documentary well worth watching. In it he refers to the March on Washington 50 years ago for freedom, work and other reforms.

During an interview Harry Belafonte had this to say on whether the March would bring about significant change in the lives of black people: “It lays heavily with the white community, the profiteers, the vested interest, the great middle stream of people in this America who refused to commit their selves, or to even have the slightest knowledge of Negro oppression has been going on.”

We can all play a part in helping to bring about important change. If not now, when?

Janet Calderwood, Rockwood