Waneta Sunshine Rotary

Pack a pillow and blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it.
Thumpa Lahiri

The holy passion of friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money
Mark Twain

book recommended

The New Jim Crowe by Michelle Alexander

1491 – New revelations of the Americas before Columbus by Charles C Mann

video clips recommended

The meeting was held at 7.15am on Zoom with President Juris presiding, 6 members and five guests (Gary ?, Lynn Oconnor, Ed Kowitz, Joan and David Cooke) present.

music, let there be peace on earth

• Business:
• pay Carol dues if not done so.
• Program
• Juris introduced Joan and David to give their perspective on “Black Lives Matter.”
• The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis was the catalyst for the resurgence of this movement. David grew up as a free “brown” person in Jamaica. He was only called black when they went to Texas. in many countries laws are either deliberately or not biased against blacks and non-Europeans. Ownership of land is often restricted, blacks being excluded. History is written from white European standpoint ignoring the roles of blacks. the fight for BLM will not be won by blacks but by whites and others getting on board. It will make a difference if people stand up and talk.
• 1491 – pre-columbus description of the Americas. Christopher Columbus was responsible for the attitudes of whites toward natives. In West Vancouver, BC by-laws are still in place that discriminate against blacks and other minorities and prevent them from owning property. In Nova Scotia Africville a thriving black community existed from 1800s to 1960 when it was bulldozed as the residents had no land title. There has been systemic retelling of history.
• Why not All lives matter? – Joan gave an analogy- If you go to the doctor and you have a broken arm you don’t expect to be told to take calcium for all your bones, you deal with the arm where the problem is.
• Whites have to stand up and support BLM or it will not go anywhere.
• After questions, Juris thanked Joan and David.
• Happy and sad bucks (not) collected. Meeting adjourned at 8.15am