UFGA mural defaced in Frogtown

 

Hello Monitor readers, 

Good summer thoughts to all. It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since the murder of Goerge Floyd. His death was a motivating symbol that things have to change and people locally, nationally, and globally rose to stand-up and speak-up for human justice. Ironically, our 2024 presidential election has slowed down the inspiring energy and is attempting to roll back and erase the golden lining of Mr. Floyd’s and others ongoing tragic sacrifices, transforming gifts, and empowering legacy of the right to breathe and pursue liberty and happiness for all people. I recall how I was so amazed at seeing the worldwide response of so many White Americans and Europeans marching, calling out for justice, and understanding why! It reminded me of the late 1950s and early 1960s when the world and Americans witnessed the news of Black folks being attacked by K-9 dogs and first responder firefighters using high powered water-hoses as weapons against multicultural people marching and demanding respect and equal opportunities. 

Prior to those visual images of the news, a good majority of White people were unaware (asleep) of the truth of what was happening. 

I think the same thing happened five years ago on a bigger social media level, that was like a quantum leap of seeing Truth in reality instead of listening to the status quo about the other or those people. 

Our current White House leadership is giving our country a simple, yet tough and hard opportunity to choose going back in time to a Jim Crow-like era or choosing White superiority rule and/or White privilege rule. I’m okay and at peace knowing that what I’m saying is very hard to understand for many White people (some are my friends) and unfortunately for an increasing number of a Black, Brown, and other People of Color, as reflected in the recent president election. I can only deeply breathe and send compassionate, empathetic, and understanding thoughts to them with the hope that they will realize that we all have been intentionally miseducated and sublimely been instructed to believe in profits over people and over the environment by any means possible for the greatness and glory of keeping America and the World sane, safe, and thriving. Do you feel our country and the World are sane, safe, and thriving?

 

This month, I asked a community colleague to share her truth about a recent incident.

“My name is Sharí Cueto, and I am the coordinator for the Urban Farm and Garden Alliance (UFGA), a grassroots organization where we grow vibrant, healthy communities through the cultivation and sharing of food.

“My morning started off fantastic! Friday, May 30, was the second day of working with college interns as part of a Reconciliation study course in an urban farming setting in the Frogtown/Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, a community that in the late 1950s its very core was destroyed by the construction of the I-94 freeway. I was excited about immersing them into the world of urban gardening and how important the work that our organization is to the community

“To say that I was shocked that I saw the ‘n’ word with the depiction of a figure hanging from a tree on a mural doesn’t even begin to express the quick onset of anger and hopelessness that I felt. It was a painful wake-up call. The perpetrator even had the audacity to date the offensive image, as if they were proud of their work. When I alerted the organization of what we discovered on their mural, they were horrified, and immediately scrubbed off the horrible figure, and although I thoroughly appreciated that, the damage has already been done.

“Here lies a bigger problem. We currently exist in a society where racists are emboldened because of an administration that is trying to erase Black history and contributions from existence, which in essence is the Trump effect. Racists feel very comfortable: they puff their chest out and say whatever comes to mind, often with little consequence, and in some cases rewarded, for their hateful rhetoric.

 “As a Black woman, my mother had taught me that these ignorant people exist, and whenever I would happen to encounter them, to just ignore them and keep moving forward. Hence, the ‘Strong Black Woman’ phrase comes into play here.

The bottom line is that Black women need support during such turbulent times, and it is not a sign of weakness to seek emotional support from our community. I am guilty of this myself. I am lucky that I am surrounded by beautiful souls of all walks of life that bring me joy on a daily basis, give me hope, and solidify in my heart that there really are good people in this turbulent world.

“A quote from Dr. Maya Angelou comes to mind: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

“As a society, we have so much work to do. Unfortunately, I can no longer look at a mural that used to make me smile. The damage has been done.”

Thanks for speaking your truth, Shari!

 

We experienced the loss of many celebrities, artists, and good everyday people during the month of May. Among them was George Wendt, better known as Norm from the old TV show Cheers. He was an unconscious influencer in my life in the mid-80s and early1990s. I liked Norm’s funny one-liners, the show’s theme lyrics with the words “everyone knows your name.” Norm was a good example of Paul Wellstone’s everyday little guy/person. I think Norm would encourage us to see our current uncertain time as a glass half full of cheers that is in need of another glass half full of cheers! Stay as optimistic as you can. Send good thoughts and prayers to all the victims, organizations, and programs that were senselessly and carelessly slashed by DOGE. We, the everyday people, are recovering and rising even in these troubling and unsure times.

May Peace Be In the Rondo, Frogtown, Hamline/Midway, Como, and Surrounding Communities... May Peace Be In Our Homes and Communities… May Peace Prevail On Earth (MPPOE).