“I see no changes, all I see is racist faces.” I can’t get this line outta my head given the current times. The tragic, senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has put a spotlight on the injustice that exists in our country. We are hurting, exhausted, angry, and discouraged right now. I am not here to tell you what to do or how to act, just know that it’s tough for everyone. But, I am going to encourage you to have the talk: internally, externally, educate yourself and get out of your comfort zone because that’s where changes happen.

I started thinking about what I know about black culture or when I started learning or recognizing it. When did I see the difference in colors? I remember in elementary school I was enrolled in a dual English-Spanish immersion class. I was born and raised in San Diego and learned how to count to 10 in Spanish before English. It just becomes second nature - you don’t look at colors, symbols or people any better or worse, just respectfully different and that is perfectly okay. In the fourth grade I was in a performing arts school and we held a play entitled: Out of Africa. It really explained the history of slavery and racism- the first time I was really learning about it. Hearing the Martin Luther King speech over and over and over again in school is crucial to understand racism and the path towards anti-racism. What sticks with me is we will be judged by the content of our character and that’s how I was raised. We read about the riots in the 50s the 60s ,then the 70s , the 80s, definitely the 90s and now here we are in the middle of a pandemic experiencing the same damn thing we have for the last thousands of years.

I don’t have any answers I don’t have any solutions; I just know that I hear what’s going on and I am listening and I am actively participating in my own way. I don’t need to take to the streets to be heard I don’t need to jeopardize the safety of my family or myself to be heard and I don’t need to go low when they go low.

We will get through- it I don’t know how, but it starts with conversations much like this I’m having with myself: remembering, understanding, questioning, accepting, changing, adjusting. Our podcast mission remains the same: an open door policy for any race, religion, gender, background, or preference to share their truth. Our recommended book list is getting a lot longer with some eager reads and we are on a mission to discover the best BBQ in the valley. Together we will rise, we are Phoenix after all.

Stay Safe.

XoXo

Britt