#80 - Don't Like Troubled Cities

Cities Everywhere

For months, the pandemic (in an odd way) has united many of us. We've had something in common with our friends and family all over the U.S.. We've shared our worries and updates.  

My family is spread out all over the country and it's comforting to be connected, especially now. Now, our focus has shifted and our conversations have changed. A week ago, we talked about the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Now, we compare the worrisome happenings in our own cities...  
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Change?
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There have been 7 days and nights of protests and rioting. I'm concerned about the people who have gotten hurt and the destruction of property. But, I'm more concerned about the racial inequality that brought this on. I hope this can be a turning point for change, but it's troublesome when I look back at history and my own memories.

Detroit 1967

​I was 10 in July of 1967. We lived 2 hours away from Detroit that summer. I remember watching the live coverage of the riots, that killed over 40 people. 

In my memory, those riots lasted all summer long. I think the riots really lasted only 5 days, but they made a big impression on me. Our family was just getting ready to move to the south, where I would hear the N-word spoken for the first time.

Tulsa Massacre 1921

I don't remember when I first learned about the Tulsa race riots of 1921. We lived in Tulsa at least 5 years, before I learned about the city's secret history. Yesterday, was the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre.  

99 years ago, in just 18 hours, hundreds of African Americans were killed and thousands were left homeless. For most of these nearly 100 years, the history of that day has been hidden.

Today, I pulled these 2 books off the shelf. My son used them for research years ago. I've been trying to keep the reading light, with all the pandemic stress. But, it's time to stop ignoring things. I've got the time to educate myself. Here I go.