Far from the sea and behind unaffected doors

Last night (Jan. 9) I watched the opening of “Just Mercy” with several Black American friends.

After the movie, a woman in the bathroom stall next to me was weeping. A very well-educated man I have tremendous respect for said he had to be convinced to go. For these two people, the still present discrimination they face as Black Americans today is so real, it’s difficult for them to watch it unfold on a screen.

Years ago, when I was trying to learn more about Native American issues, Al Frank, a Nez Perce friend of mine said “Just go to a Pow Wow. They will notice if you keep coming and it will open doors to conversation.” My first Pow Wow was a wake-up call with an explosion of rich culture and also troubling conversations about today’s youth.

Bob Lloyd spoke up in a large auditorium in 2016 and said, “If anyone wants to know more about Black Culture in Spokane, come to Rocket Market on Thursdays at 10 a.m.” And for three years, every single Thursday, I got the best — education — ever!

Last year, after meeting people camping under Spokane’s Brown Street Bridge and at City Hall’s Camp Hope, I made some incredible friends and learned that untreated trauma was the main reason for homelessness. New research states 300 million people will lose their homes to the rising sea by 2050 and Australia is currently burning up.

The environmental and lifestyle changes we are encouraged to make are GOOD IDEAS for many reasons whether or not you “believe” in climate change. For those of us living far from the sea, mostly white, middle class and behind so-called unaffected doors, it’s URGENT that we step out.

There really are ways to gain insight and help.

Barb Brock

Cheney