The day we become silent

Catherine Glynn

Lanesboro, MN

It’s been said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

In light of that, I’m choosing to speak out. During Lanesboro’s most recent Buffalo Bill Days, someone stole our Black Lives Matter sign. For some of you reading this, you might be thinking, “good riddance.” I especially urge you to keep reading.

To add insult to the day’s injury, as the town’s Buffalo Bill Parade parade passed our house, I looked up to see the second to the last float: a faux Amish cart with two boys imitating the Amish, drinking whiskey. It bore the sign “Don’t Tell The Bishop” and a large confederate flag. At the time, I had no way of knowing that requests were made at the beginning of the parade to remove the flag, and I don’t know how officials addressed the insulting behavior toward our Amish neighbors. I only bore witness to over three blocks worth of the despicable display of disrespect that took place once out of the eyes and earshot of the authorities who asked them to remove the offensive regalia.

Can you take a moment and imagine what it’s like for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) to experience entering a place between 95-97% white? Can you envision on the drive into or out of town seeing signs that openly disparage your race, or view the tail end of the parade where the rebel flag — an implicit symbol of racism — is openly displayed? I can’t truly fathom it because what it says to me is, “you are not wanted here.”

I don’t know quite how to go about dismantling racism in any ways other than I am – working with BIPOC artists, bringing them to town to tell their stories, placing signs that let you know my beliefs, writing, and speaking out when I see injustice. I also have conversations with willing neighbors and doing my best to engage with people who yell up to me as I sit on my porch, “Black lives don’t matter,” which has happened more times than I care to count.

My husband and I choose to place and keep a Black Lives Matter sign in our yard because we want our neighbors and visitors to know we wish to end racism. If your counterargument is, all lives matter – please know we believe that too. Black Lives Matter, as a movement, and our sign, isn’t suggesting that other lives “don’t matter,” nor that black lives are “more important.” If that were the case, it would read, Only Black Lives Matter. Instead, it says they Matter. And to Matter is the Minimum.

Often, in response to a BLM sign, a sign endorsing support of local police will go up nearby.

Our BLM sign, is in no way, about us not appreciating the work our local law enforcement does. Instead, it’s a reminder to everyone that our community is racially imbalanced, and so too is our perspective. 

Initially, excuses of drunkenness or boys being boys were made for both incidents. And that is my fear. That this is our future: excuses continuing to justify racism, and silence, on the part of far too many, will reign supreme.

When all of this occurred, I began asking local politicians to engage with me in conversation about the systemic racism in our town. I requested we act in solidarity with Minneapolis – to pass resolutions declaring ourselves “an intentionally compassionate city where each of us can reach our full potential while caring for one another, eliminating racial disparities… and promoting social well-being.” I also asked if Lanesboro would openly recognize the Confederate flag as a symbol of hate and white supremacy. That we as a city take a stand and clarify that we won’t tolerate racist participation trophies at city-sponsored events. To date, none of my invitations have received any response. If you wish to end racism, I am asking you to join me in these requests.

I’m asking you to take stock of how both your actions and your silence affect the greater good. Because as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”