Editor,

Regarding history and the Black Lives Matter banner and United Student Leaders, or USL.

After George Floyd, I wrote a free-form poem of U.S. history events called, “I Wear Black.” Some of the events are, “I wear black … On Columbus Day to mourn … the genocide of Native American tribes by the European white. man. On August 27th to mourn … the African Americans gunned down by the KKK in the Jacksonville Massacre. On October 24th to mourn … Chinese deaths caused by fearful whites in 1871 in the Chinese Massacre. I wear black … to mourn … for this country but I have HOPE.

On many days I wear white … because I have hope that my children will educate their children in the untold history of our country … because I see HOPE and change in my grandchildren … in their attitudes, inclusiveness of others, not seeing differences of skin color … because I see hope in my great-grandchildren who are learning that we are all the children of God belonging to the Rainbow Coalition of mankind. I see hope for this country… hope for the future…hope for all of us.”

These are only a few examples from hundreds of events I found while researching this poem.

History is not a static discipline. When new discoveries occur, articles are published in academic journals and textbooks are updated.

History is dynamic, changing; it is a living discipline.

May of 2020 hit me hard because my youngest daughter is married to a wonderful African American man. She became my teacher in navigating through the past year.

I want my white grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know and thoroughly understand what their mixed African-, Native- and Mexican-American blood-related cousins may encounter during their lives.

My youngest daughter has taught me to dig deeper in striving for patience, respect, inclusiveness, decency, equity. But most of all, to be forgiving to those who do not want change, who want to remain in ignorance in our changing times, especially those who continue to promote systemic white supremacy in our country.

If you do not truly understand the history behind the banner “slogan” of Black Lives Matter, or Asian, Latinx or Indigenous histories, go to the library and start reading.

Black Lives Matter started as a hashtag in 2013, then the “slogan,” which is not trademarked by any group, was used around the world in 2020.

That puts the “slogan” in the public domain like “happy birthday” or “God bless America.”

You can buy BLM signs on Amazon and signs are all over the island “in the public domain.” The “slogan” is just that; people may have attached other agendas to it, including PACS, but the “slogan” remains in the public domain and is just a statement.

If the BLM banner violates the neutrality of South Whidbey High School, then maybe school board Policy 2340 should be amended to “delete” the sections that give the right to a student to distribute religious literature on campus, or the right to wear religious attire or symbols, or the right to engage in private, non-disruptive prayer at any time not in conflict with learning activities.

If students have rights to pray, distribute religious literature, and wear religious attire, then students also have the right to display a banner having a slogan “in the public domain.”

To the USL students: You are our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in my poem. You give all of us parents, grandparents and great-grandparents hope that the future will be in excellent hands. You inspire us to continue educating ourselves, to listen and talk with you about the issues that you will face in the future. We cannot thank you enough.

So, from time to time you will see this “crazy lady” across the street from the high school or at the Bayview park-and-ride with my signs and, like my youngest daughter, I will “turn the other cheek” when some people give me an obscene gesture or scream insults like “may you rot in hell.”

And know that those adults who continue to oppose the BLM banner are aligning themselves with criminal actions since two incidents have occurred.

Stay strong, USL, because you are the future.

Charlene Davenport

Clinton