“Whoever debases others is debasing himself.”
— James Baldwin, “The Fire Next Time”
Months ago, after the filmed murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis law enforcement officers, many Americans believed that the matter was simply another tragic case of police brutality that would receive some intensive media attention and then go away in the ceaseless loop of 24-hour news cycles.
How wrong they were. The Floyd case unleashed a firestorm that has compelled the nation not only to examine current social justice and policing issues but also our shameful legacy of violence, inequality, oppression and discrimination, as well as the overt and subtle forms of racism and bigotry that persist in our society.
Jmore recently asked four local writers and thinkers to share their views on the seismic shifts taking place today in American society regarding race, equality, the Black Lives Matter movement and social justice issues.
Rain Pryor Vane: Desert of Confusion
If anyone can relate to the struggle of Black people, it’s us, the Jewish people, writes Rain Pryor Vane.
Del. Dana M. Stein: Speak Up and Act
“We must not just speak out against racial discrimination,” writes Del. Dana M. Stein. “We must act by working to provide solutions to the discrimination that Black people face.”
Gail Lipsitz: Take a Selfie
None of us can breathe easy until all of us can breathe freely, writes Pikesville resident Gail Lipsitz.
Will Schwarz: Seismic Changes in our World
Maybe the fact that the pandemic brought daily life to a halt allowed us to see more clearly what we’ve been ignoring all along, writes Will Schwarz, founder of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project.
Ezra Z. Weinblatt, son of Baltimore native Rabbi Stuart G. Weinblatt, allegedly pushed anti-Israel protesters and broke their sound equipment Apr. 16 in front of the Israel Embassy.
This June, Pikesville resident Guy Taylor, a junior at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School, will receive the Congressional Award, which recognizes service, initiative and achievement among young Americans.
With her documentary, local journalist Rona Kobell explores the environmental and social conditions of the Eastern Shore's Deal Island.
In Kenya, MSI is working with local organizations to help provide access to contraception so girls can continue their education and pursue their dreams.