Day 11- Another pretty face

Jefferson Park, Richmond, VA.  Photo by Steven, King

Dearest Richmond,

Today, you flirt with me.  Unbelievable how pretty you can be in the midst of absolute chaos.  This week was a hard one for our country.  The numbers rise, the death polls rise.  In the last few weeks we have lost two amazing artists- Bill Withers and John Prine.  JP died from Covid-19.  It seems as though noone is immune to Covid's chilling deathly grasp.

This gorgeous view of the city is taken from Jefferson Park in the corner of Church Hill.  While you have a beautiful face today Richmond you do not have a beautiful History.  While you are my home, what you represent to so many is a different story.  "The capital of the confederacy"  What a sad thing to be known as.  You see, no one is all of one thing and it is unfair to speak about the beauty of my home, with out also discussing its dark side.

The thing I love the most about Richmond is the diversity and I know it comes at a price.  I love where I live and at the same time I do not want to be part of the problem.   Gentrification overwhelms our neighborhood as we push our lower socioeconomic neighbors to the borders of this city.  Richmond has deep roots in racial inequity, racism, and even a hate for folks who have different life experiences than our own.

It is not okay, and I do see it as my responsibility to stand up to the things I see as I see them.
The fact that this world is as polarized as we have become makes it a dangerous world to express your personal experiences, thoughts, and differing opinions.  It is a brave act these days to stand up for what is right- especially if the "right thing" is not the trendy opinion at the time.  I think it is actually an even braver (and harder) act to have the courage to listen to someone who has a differing opinion than your own without getting defensive and waiting your turn to just tell them that they are wrong.  WHAT IF we all just listened instead of trying to push our own agendas?

I would love to live in a community where subsidized housing units are integrated within the blocks with single family homes.  This is what diversity really means.  Diverse of experience, age, gender, race, life experience.  Not a community driven by fear.  We spend so much time in this neighborhood putting each other on blast that we are not spending time listening to each other and understanding the experiences of our neighbors.  We must do better.  Just because something is uncomfortable does not mean that you should not say it or lean into it.  

In this time of uncertainty, I am trying to do my part to be the neighbor I would want others to be towards me.  I deeply hope that as we work towards healing as a nation we can heal more than just a physical disease, I hope we can start to heal our whole selves.

<3