Category Archives: District 4

Columbia Speaks!

I speak to people. I don’t always expect people to speak back, but it doesn’t change my character. I just believe in seeing people and acknowledging them. Columbia itself is multi-racial and multi-cultural. The language and culture barrier lends to my understanding that, sometimes people don’t speak back. Often, I am the first to speakContinue reading “Columbia Speaks!”

No follow-up

Our school staff were assigned to read The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education last year. Unfortunately, there were no students physically in school, so there were no opportunities to practice the lessons. There has been no follow-up this year. This lack of follow-up feels all too familiar. Our School Improvement Plan has AfricanContinue reading “No follow-up”

Neighbors

I witnessed a White neighbor being friendly and kind to Black neighbor, but when that White neighbor interacted with me, they said things about the Black neighbor that were negative. This made me sad, because my White neighbor knows how they should be acting and thinking, but they aren’t doing so with feeling. I wasContinue reading “Neighbors”

Grocery time

I have been sticking close to home for the last few months. One of the few places I go is the grocery store. There is such a discrepancy between who is shopping and who is stocking/checking out/bagging – working hard and with long hours and probably not very significant compensation or recognition. It’s striking toContinue reading “Grocery time”

Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms

I’m still so discouraged by the level of white entitlement and prioritization of their “comfort” we still see in our community. By my “liberal” white friends who express concern about issues that are served up to them by “moderate” and right-wing media explicitly fear mongering and seeking political advantage with white outrage. These issues areContinue reading “Challenging comfort, moderation, and norms”