It’s the end of summer of 2020 and so far, it has been one heck of a year. We’re still in the middle of a world-wide pandemic of a disease from which those afflicted have a range from little or no symptoms to death. Those who survive may experience long-term neurological or respiratory damage after fighting for their lives. People are protesting against wearing masks, protesting against the police, and protesting for civil rights and to be treated with respect and as an equal member of society. People are hoarding toilet tissue, hand sanitizers, rice, beans, ramen noodles, and Aunt Jemima products before they change the label. The stock market has suffered, capitalism has suffered, families are suffering due to lack of employment, and we still have the flu season and a highly anticipated election coming this year.
The year of 1968 was another pivotal year in the United States. Living and watching the events from the last six months makes me wonder – what went through their minds as they thought about the current events as they went about their daily lives in 1968? I’m lucky enough to work from home and my child is an adult out of school. I’m scared to leave my home as a black woman. I’m scared for my child and black people in general. How did the previous generations survive 1968 without losing their minds? Maybe they did lose it just a little bit. There were two major assassinations, riots, and a Democratic convention which appears to be on-par with the current intensity of the upcoming election the country is now gearing up for. In 1968, there were riots and protests across the country, we were still fighting in Vietnam, there was a stand-off with North Korea, the Black Panthers had a 90-minute shoot-out with the Oakland Police, and 53,000 people rallied in D.C. to support the Poor People’s Campaign. And that’s just up to June 1968.
This year of 2020 will be a year I will never forget. I will never forget risking my life in order to get groceries and watching nearly all cycles of America’s Next Top Model, re-watching Games of Thrones, Judge Faith, the entire Ken Burns Jazz series, Katt Williams for a laugh, and starting this website. I will never forget arguing with my adult child because I want go on vacation and being told to stay my butt at home where it’s safe. Of the only safe freedom away from home is driving nowhere around town in my car and listening to music just to get away for awhile. If you’re reading this, I’m glad you’re alive. Send me an email me and let me know how you’re surviving and enduring during these trying times.