I am a white woman who grew up in Topeka, Kansas. My father was the family doctor for Linda Brown’s family, and he found the lawyer who took Brown v. Topeka Board of Education to the Supreme Court. He did not raise me to be a racist. He took me to meet Lutie Mae Brown. We were twins at first sight, regardless of color and age. Dad took me to visit her several times a year, and we took a small gift each time. Lutie Mae and I sent each other the mushiest cards we could find for every holiday. I sobbed when she passed away.
I am sickened by the racism that has become rampant since Trump usurped the White House, and I am personally doing something about it. When I’m at the grocery store or out for a walk, I take a knee for the black people I see. I tell them, “I’m taking a knee for you because Black Lives Matter, and your life matters to me.” Some of the responses have given me happy tears, and I’ve also gotten several hugs. My favorite was the man at the grocery store who put his hand over his heart and said, “I appreciate you. You have touched me very deeply.” As I got back up, I told him, “I just want to make your day a little better.” He replied, “You made my whole week a whole lot better!”
I challenge white people to put a stop to racism. Prosecute white people who call the police when they see a black person going into their own home, doing their job, celebrating a birthday, picking up trash, or doing anything else that is not a crime. These people should be charged with filing a false police report and punished to the full extent of the law. Make their punishment front page news. I think that would be a good deterrent.
And if you are so inclined, I challenge you to take a knee.
Jody Harnish
Lynnwood
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