Black history is people, not buildings

To the editor:

How can a newspaper satisfy its obligations for Black History Month by claiming six buildings "shaped" Cape Girardeau's history? Black History Month is about people, not buildings. Where are the life stories? Not one black person was interviewed. It is pandering and a prime example of the rationalization Carol Daniel, this year's Michael Davis Lecture speaker, warned against: the rationalization of looking the other way in the face of human history that will likely surface injustice.

What about wading into the rich history of people who have lived out their lives within those buildings? Let us hear from those who have prayed, preached, taught and learned about a better life only to leave the sanctuary of those places to live daily life in a city that works in subtle oppression. We would likely hear the hard truth of hope dashed, talent unfulfilled and wavering faith persevering in the promise that one day disparities would be leveled and barriers brought down.

Quit rationalizing, Cape Girardeau. We have a long way to go before the strife of our racial inequities is history. Acknowledging the injustices of our past could truly shape our city. Let's work on healing mistakes and omissions of the past by embracing the opportunities of the present. Let's encourage black leadership development. Let's work during out-of-school hours with children and parents so that academic achievement gaps are narrowed. And let's support young adults in career development so they can make a livable wage, eradicating generational poverty.

DENISE LINCOLN, Cape Girardeau