“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
After more than a month, the walk to end racism is going strong at Trilogy — twice a day, every day — inspired in part by Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream for his children to live in a nation where all people are truly treated equally. Recent events have shown that change is coming, but we still have a long way to go.
“We have to do this because America needs to get rid of the hate,” says organizer Rich Lynn, who leads walks at 7:25 a.m. and 7:25 p.m. every day.
The walk is also gathering interest outside Trilogy. Walkers from other Rio Vista neighborhoods and the Rio Vista Fire and Police departments have joined in to show support, and Jeanne Brown’s piece about the walk in Readers’ Digest (www.rd.com/nicestplaces/the-nicest-place-in-california-rio-vista/) has brought national attention.
Each walk begins after four minutes of silence to remember those who have suffered from systemic racism and one minute to imagine a world without racism.
“We need to be colorblind for a little while until we can learn to appreciate our differences,” Lynn said, explaining that the walk is meant to be a retreat from racism. “For an hour every day, I live in a world without racism. When I walk, I am in the spirit of the movement. We want to share that.”
Walkers have joined him to show their support for his goal and for a variety of their own reasons. Jim Hodges first got involved to celebrate his 75th birthday.
“I thought I would like to do something important or especially meaningful to celebrate that milestone,” he said. “It gives us a chance to meet our neighbors who are concerned with the insidious racism that has been given free license of late. We can talk, share our concerns and get to know each other. Communication is so much more useful than confrontation.”
The goal of this column is also to be useful – informing Rio Vistans about the movement to end racism, providing resources for further education and, especially, offering a safe place to ask questions.
“It’s not enough to sit idly by and do nothing anymore,” Lynn says. “None of us are doing this because we have nothing better to do. I want to give Dr. Martin Luther King’s kids and grandkids what he wanted for them.”
Those who walk with him still have that dream, too.
Eye-Openers
- This week’s recommended reading: “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. This No. 1 New York Times best-seller was called “the most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.” Available on Amazon.
- This week’s recommended viewing: “13th” (2016), Ava DuVernay’s Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary film that looks at how the U.S. prison system reveals the country’s history of racial inequality. Available on Netflix.
Just Wondering?
Do you have a question about race, discrimination or privilege? Send your questions to OurDreamRV@gmail.com. Our multiracial panel will consider all sincere and respectful inquiries for publication.
Join us!
Club 7:25’s mission is to end racism. We meet at 7:25 a.m. and 7:25 p.m. every day in the parking lot between the tennis courts and the Delta Club swimming pool on Summerset Drive in Trilogy. Five minutes of silence is followed by a 30-minute walk to the Vista Club and back, and discussion of current events surrounding race. All walkers must wear a face mask and practice social distancing by walking at least six feet apart. T-shirts are available for $15.