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04/25/2025

Today’s blog

Lynn Murphy Mark

May 25, 2020

The year 2020 stands out to me for two reasons: COVID19 and George Floyd’s murder on May 25^th. Something else happened in July of 2025 during a Summer of protests about a cop putting his knee on George Floyd’s neck until George died on the pavement in Minnesota. The cop had no regard for the fact that George could not breathe. His level of arrogance was such that he did not care that his actions were being recorded by a brave young woman and her phone. Those images were powerful reminders that white supremacy took yet another Black life unfairly and illegally. 

Jan and I were quarantined in our home along with most of the rest of the country. We passed the time partly by reverting to childhood and putting Lego sets together. That was fun and fulfilling for the moment, and a bit silly for two old broads to be assembling kits that were marked for people 6+ years of age. 

As I remember it, our TV was tuned to MSNBC for most of our waking hours. We absorbed the reports of COVID deaths, and 45’s ridiculous suggestions for combating the deadly virus. Every day he came up with something so out of touch with the reality that all we could do was shake out heads. He mocked China and the medical experts who were clamoring for supplies and support in this unprecedented battle. He interfered with Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the many voices of reason about the dangers of COVID 19. On 45’s watch in 2020, 350,831 Americans died.

Black Lives Matter was also in the forefront of the news. People wearing masks gathered to protest at least two needless deaths by police violence. Say their names. Breonna Taylor March 13, 2020. George Floyd May 25, 2020. 

As the Summer unfolded I got angrier and angrier. As is my very good habit, I talked to Jan and Rose and Mary about the helpless rage that made my stomach hurt. Together we came up with a proposition – what if we gathered a group of white people and started a reading group? We settled on the name of Racial Justice Learning Group. We chose the book “White Fragility” to start. We gathered over a dozen friends who agreed to zoom with us once a month to discuss our impressions and our feelings as we read through that very challenging book.

Last night, April 24, 2025, was the last meeting of our group. The people attending have changed somewhat over the years, but we have read 5 very good books that taught us the extent of racism in our country. We have discussed topics about our roles in the white supremacy that still rules. These were hard but very necessary lessons. None of us can unlearn what the books and our honest discussions have taught us. And, the friendships that have developed among us are relationships to cherish. There is so much power in a group of like-minded people whose minds are open to learn and change together. 

At our last meeting, one of us asked what we do now. This launched a discussion about the various ways we can protest what is happening in our country under the dysfunctional rule of the one who is now known as 47. Perhaps what we learned together over the last five years has better equipped us to speak up, to speak against, to speak out loud, to speak in the language of protest. 

As for myself, I have become much more comfortable speaking with my co-workers of color about their lived experiences through subtle and overt racism and daily microaggressions. I am doing what I can to be an ally. I would not have known how to do this if it weren’t for the Racial Justice Learning Group.