Letter: Column moving, reminds of experience as social worker

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 24, 2020

This is my way to respond to Ash Love and her so well-written column in the Salisbury Post on June 14 (“On Black lives matter, the chant of our time”).

I am more than moved by your extremely well-written column in the Salisbury Post. I do not believe anyone could have written it as well as you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am an 82-year-old white female. And, while I am not a person of color and have not experienced the many actions against people of color, I am on your side more than 100%. As a teenager who grew up in Rowan County, I caravanned for the Luther League of America and had the privilege of serving in Harlem, an eye-opening experience that began a life-long service as a social worker. In the 1960s I served as a school social worker in Durham County and had the privilege to be the first white person to serve in an all-Black school. During integration in that school district, the KKK singled me out for harassment because I dared to work with an all-Black school and its families.

My heart mourns sincerely for what is happening now in this country, but it is long overdue. Yes, Black lives matter. And there must be a permanent end to the unequal justice too long perpetuated. Thank you, and I will always stand by your side.