Like so many of you, I have been taking the time to listen. Read. Watch documentaries. Reflect. Study. Donate money. Support Durham’s many Black-owned businesses. Sign petitions. Sit with my sadness and confusion. Double down on my volunteer work with FLIP NC because local elections really matter when it comes to policing budgets and policies. And commit to not letting up – this work cannot be a fad.

I keep thinking about this Toni Morrison quote: “If you can only be tall because somebody is on their knees, then you have a serious problem. And my feeling is white people have a very, very serious problem, and they should start thinking about what they can do about it. Take me out of it.”

I’m filled with both an urge to act and a call to be contemplative in this moment, and so I am looking to people who are smarter than me and more advanced in their quest to become anti-racist. I want to see bold action taken right away, and yet I also understand that 400 years of systemic racism will not be undone in 400 minutes or even 400 weeks.

So I will leave plenty unsaid in this sparse space in the hope that you will seek other voices and study their wisdom. Since this column is about downtown Durham, though, I want to thank every single one of the protestors who have shown up and peacefully advocated for justice. Our city is better because of you.

Enjoy these photos of the beautiful Black art currently gracing our downtown streets – I am so inspired each time I look at them. The artists were paid for the work, either by the business housing the mural or through the North Star Church of the Arts Durham Artist Relief Fund. I encourage you to join me in donating to the fund. And follow these individual artists on Instagram – many of their handles are visible in the artwork.

 

 

After a decade as an editor with various NC magazines, Andrea Cash launched her own creative services company, Andrea Cash Creative, in 2017. She helps small businesses and organizations in Durham and Chapel Hill with content strategy and creation, branding, PR, social media, and video and event production.

Andrea is passionate about community building, doing work that benefits the greater good and helping entrepreneurs grow their business in a purposeful way. Outside of work, Andrea sings in her cover band Penny’s Bend, plays tennis as often as she can, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and Book Harvest, and runs communications for grassroots progressive group FLIP NC.

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