Voices of color need to be more included in day-to-day life

Published 12:37 pm Wednesday, February 11, 2015

As the mother of mixed children, I started to examine issues of racism once it was directed toward my son and my daughter. I see it as a lifetime dismantling that has enriched my life with humility, understanding and inspiration.

Virulent racism directed at my then 13-year-old and an underwhelming community response brought us to live on Vashon in 2007 from Stevens County, Washington. Nearly 8 years later, I have seen my share of ignorant racism in a community that considers itself for the most part to be liberal, even progressive. Not only have my children shared their stories, but I have heard and read of what people of color have endured when they live or come here. I also am sad to say that I have encountered terrible racism that I have had to address several times.

Going to the Martin Luther King Day march in Seattle with my children and grandchildren, followed by a panel “Black Power to Black Lives Matter” three days later were both very uplifting. It was well worth stepping out of the island comfort zone to absorb a real sense of the scope of deadly destruction caused by unchecked white supremacy and witness inspired courageous action led by youth of color.

It is my hope that the voices of people of color are more fully included in day-to-day life. Learning the facets of racism from cultural appropriation to ongoing police violence; where organized white supremacy thrives in our state, including killing people of color; how obliviousness assures racism’s continuance and what we can do to transform that are essential.

We all will be greatly enhanced by such work and awareness.

— Swaneagle Fitzgerald