TBT this week is actually going back way farther than just some hard working community members from the Waking Up White Collaborative and the Greater La Crosse Diversity Council. You see the problems that have created the need for these groups are deeply rooted in social justice. The recent murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor have brought forth national protests against long-standing police brutality and systemic racism that permeates our country.
Below pictured is a local effort by our area youth...
Even during the pandemic, work has continued to make our community more enlightened as to how our small Black community is still being treated even 50 years after the 60's Civil Rights's protests. So the Waking Up White Collaborative and the Greater La Crosse Diversity Council sponsored videographer Peter Moua's 2 videos of Amplifying the Voices of Black Youth and their Parents in the La Crosse Area which were premiered at a virtual free program consisting of 2 evenings of viewing and breaking out in small group discussions with some 200 + community members in attendance.
Recounted by youth were daily incidents of non supportive school staff regarding behavior management, the use of the 'N' word, safety, need for equal respect with an inclusive Black history curriculum.
Parents voiced their exhaustion of the constant need to put out the fires after their children's school days in addition to the worries of their community's reaction of having black neighbors, treatment of surveillance/value as business patrons, local police treatment, etc...
The hurt, frustration and anger we heard from both black parents and their youth is not unique to our small Midwestern town and until we truly hear the voices of these daily experiences of racism, bullying and stereotyping can we begin to have honest dialogues of why Black Lives Matter and change the environment, policies and practices which disproportionately impact black youth and their families.
These videos will be made available to interested groups including schools, community businesses and organizations... The dialogue is crucial for change to happen.
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