2020 is a dramatic year. Our global shared experience regarding COVID-19 has allowed the world to focus on events highlighting racial inequity and civil rights issues. Deep thinking and personal reflection has led to important deliberate and spontaneous conversations with family, friends, community and work colleagues. Bellevue Lifestyle reached out to the three engaged local voices Nina Jennings, Fredda Goldfarb and Chantel Benjamin, to get their perspective on the important conversations happening in our country.
How would you describe your experience view on 2020 in general, through the lens of the pandemic and also in light of this movement for social change and drive to solve racial injustice?
Nina: 2020 has been a humdinger. Like many Americans, the police killings and the protests that ensued forced many feelings to the surface and the result was not unlike a sucker punch to the stomach. A Veteran child of a veteran of multiple wars turned police officer, I live and work in white America, and now walk around feeling betrayed, on many levels, by what is supposed to be my country.
Fredda: My mindset on 2020 has been all over the board. On a certain level, it felt like our planet or the Universe, whatever you want to call IT was screaming for our attention. Then, when the brutal murder of George Floyd shined a light on the countless souls lost to injustice or racism, my focus shifted from fear, to outrage, and then to hope. I see change on the horizon.
Chantel: I knew Covid would change the world forever. I had experienced something similar when I contracted swine flu. I was hospitalized for a few days, placed on a ventilator; then I was quarantined to my bedroom for about 14 days. I definitely felt like I was never gonna get better. I'm in utter disbelief, yet relieved, at what this pandemic has done for the recognition and acknowledgement of systemic racism.
We are all having to educate ourselves on multiple levels, has this process led to any memorable conversations? Have you learned something new or surprising?
Nina: When the violence and protests first came to Bellevue, I was stunned, it took me a few days to figure out why. The recent civil unrest unveiled the truth; that so much of what we had been taught to believe in a post-MLK, post-racial USA is tinted by rose colored glasses and is a thinly disguised fantasy. I didn’t want to talk about it at my almost ALL white workplace, especially not as the only Black woman in a technical role in the office, not if I were going to be asked to educate or explain.
Chantel: This educational process for me has weeded out racist people in my life, but I'm not sure if they know that they are racist. I had to tell myself not everyone can be swayed, people will not open their minds to this type of pain. It's not my job to show you the light. These questions break my soul when I ask myself, Why is racism a debate? Why is the continual murder of blacks by law enforcement not heinous for everyone? Why do you criminalize my skin? Why am I lesser than?
Is there anything you are doing at home, or elsewhere that feels particularly helpful or calming?
Fredda: I meet with an independent spiritual group we call SPARROW (Spiritual. People. Reading. Reflecting. On-growing. Wisdom.) I’ve coordinated a few of my Sparrow friends along with others to launch The Good4All Experience, an effort to get people to embrace four new positive practices that are “good for me, good for you and good for all.” All change starts at the individual level. Our goal is to make “good go viral.”
Chantel: I join as many protests as I can. I feel safe and loved when unity by all races is experienced. I'm so proud of my generation! They have been the driving force behind this racial uprising and what a beautiful thing to see on social media. However, the generation before us, they have a lot of work to do.
Nina: To keep myself centered, I have had to disconnect. I have cut down on social media and television news. I don’t want to be further disappointed by the things that White and Black friends say; a few have been upset because THEIR child has been affected by this one thing they witnessed. What about ours who are filled with anxiety because they are in the car when their fathers are pulled over on the 520 bridge for going one mile over the speed limit? They are affected every day of their lives.
Have you experienced a moment of poignance, clarity or pain that has helped you grow as a person?
Fredda: My family was affected by the looting in Bellevue as our jewelry store was broken into, ransacked, vandalized and robbed. I have to admit, my first emotion was anger. The wanton destruction and violence seemed so pointless. And it is. I quickly realized that the people who looted our store were punks and opportunists, not protesters. They were very different from the passionate protesters who channeled their rage into peaceful demonstrations like the Black Lives Matter march in Seattle that was 60,000 people strong. I will never condone or support violence or vandalism as a method or means to an end. But, I will truly listen, self-reflect and work to be better when I see 60,000 of my fellow citizens raising their voices, marching and demanding change.
What is your outlook or vision beyond 2020?
Chantel: I want to have an impact on every person in my life when it comes to combatting systemic racism. I just want the white majority in power to see us as equal, change will be demanded. I want the fight to continue (forever) on every level, from as many people as possible. I don't want to be scared to bring life into this world and have my child imprisoned and/or murdered.
Nina: I am hopeful. I don’t believe that we can solve this in my lifetime, if a solution exists, but I do believe as we discuss that ugly thing that no one wants to talk about, we can make steps in that direction.
Fredda: At heart I am an optimist. Our family Christmas Card theme this year was “2020 vision,” and it had a photo of Steve, myself and our dog Ellie in sun glasses looking into a bright sun-scape with words like “Hope”, “Health” “Kindness” “Love” floating in the sky. Even in light of all the challenges we face, I believe we really have only one choice. That is to recognize we are all connected, we are truly all in this together, and we need to make individual and group changes to assure our kids and grandkids inherit a transformed, peaceful world. No other inheritance will matter if their world is broken and unlivable.