My neighborhood has become a lot more diverse in recent years. It gives me a lot of hope to see my new neighbors and old neighbors forming a new community together. We've had a couple neighborhood get-togethers to celebrate different holidays and traditions that have been really fun and educational for all of us. … [Read more...]
Caution
I was pulling into my driveway when I saw my new neighbor coming back from running and I waved at him. His family is the only African American family on my street. He stopped on the street and as I got out of my van, he introduced himself, as did I. As we carried on talking, telling me as little bit about himself, he continued to stand in the street at the end of my driveway. We were having a friendly, genuine conversation. Then he took a step onto my driveway, and then took a step back, and … [Read more...]
I Maintain Hope
I live in a very racial and culturally diverse Ellicott City neighborhood. I have lived there for ten years now. I see children of different races and cultures play together, families meet together for lawn picnics. Neighbors stop and chat with each other at our cars as we come and go. In my small building of twelve families, we have families from Asia, Africa, Pakistan. My neighbors bring me food from their religious celebrations and explain to me what their beliefs are. These interactions give … [Read more...]
HoCo is a Utopia for White People
HoCo is updating its General Plan. I have participated in several online Design workshops regarding the updates. I noticed that none of the illustrations used by the DPZ included non-white people. There were plenty of images of people enjoying the outdoor amenities, eating in outdoor restaurants, etc. In the post workshop survey, I commented about this, and how it is giving the impression that there are no black, brown, or Asian people in HoCo, nor are they welcome. Visibility is vital. … [Read more...]
Neighborhood revitalization
I was recently dismayed at a meeting with members of my community opposed to a new apartment complex in our neighborhood. People testified against it by saying “you know how apartment people are”. I interpreted this as a racist comment and opposed to my strong views of why Columbia was developed and why we chose it as a place to live no raise our children. … [Read more...]
People Need Housing
I was asked by neighbors in my upper middle-class neighborhood to join them in opposing high-density housing nearby. They cited busy streets and schools, but I felt they were really opposing mixing of classes and that this had racist undertones. I would like for the diversity in Howard County to also include the recognition that people of all race-classes deserve a place to live and that we can share our spaces and resources. … [Read more...]
Enough is Enough
In my neighborhood, a few months ago a white neighbor's home was vandalized. Without any evidence, the white neighbor accused another neighbor's son, who was black, of the incident. My black neighbor was very upset because there was no evidence for this accusation. After a few weeks of investigation, it was found that it was someone from outside. Some of us in the neighborhood approached the white neighbor and asked her reasons. According to her someone told her it was a couple of black … [Read more...]
School Redistricting
The Redistricting of Howard County Schools - it is was obvious that it was racial. Residents did not care about equity. They used devaluing of their property as an excuse. … [Read more...]
Not My HOA
My community was experiencing some conflicts between a renter and an owner that live in townhomes built directly across from one another. The Renter was a Black Woman with a child and the Owner was a White Man and his family of 4. The Owner took issues with things they observed going on in or around the renter's home involving police and also gripes about parking issues. The Renter complained that she was constantly being racially harassed by the Owner. She claimed she had been … [Read more...]
School Inequities along racial lines
For a county known for its diversity, there is a jarring amount of covert and overt racism whenever new school boundaries are recommended. I've heard and read people say that they don't want their kids "going to THOSE schools" and that "some people just don't value education as much as we do" to explain why some schools (with higher White populations) have higher test scores than schools with high Free and Reduced Meals students (and higher Black and immigrant populations). When explanations are … [Read more...]
Surveillance
Recently, I've noticed a paranoia in the use of the Ring camera/doorbell. Those of us on Nextdoor to share information with our neighbors are often bombarded with accusatory videos. It feels biased and judgmental. The uploading of these videos seems to disrupt community rather than to promote it. … [Read more...]
Flower of Hope
When the incident in Atlanta occurred and there were subsequent micro and macro-hateful acts against Asians, my next door neighbor stopped by with a pot of orchid and a lovely card saying that she is there for us. … [Read more...]
Forced Out
My Black neighbor had to vacate their home last week. Covid hit their family hard, and they weren't able to pay rent for several months. Their white landlord didn't help them with rent assistance and made them leave when their lease went up. It was a tragic disruption to their lives and a blow to our neighborhood. … [Read more...]
Improve Don’t Move?
The most recent debates around redistricting schools in Howard County was the ugliest I've seen. Racism and classism were both subtle and overt. Opponents revived the "separate but equal" sentiments of Jim Crow with "improve don't move" signs which they littered throughout the county, including near schools with high percentages of students of color and students eligible for free and reduced meals. Bussing was a near constant refrain of why things shouldn't change. … [Read more...]
Ideal environment
Living in Howard County I noticed this is a very diverse community. I see children of different races playing together. In my neighborhood, there are multiracial families and a diverse racial representation. To me, this is the ideal environment for my kids to grow up in. … [Read more...]
Undesign the Redline
My organization put on the Undesign the Redline exhibit and we received a lot of feedback from the community about racial inequality still having a long way to go. … [Read more...]
Affirming love
Neighbors planting flags on their lawns affirming love of people, not hate. … [Read more...]
Buyer Beware
Buyer Beware: My husband and I began renting a home when we relocated to Howard County a few years ago. Last year we began looking for a home to purchase here. We were shocked and saddened when our realtor suggested we not look or purchase in certain areas of Columbia (he named them) because the schools and neighbors "were bad". We purchased in Columbia with another agent. I shudder to think how many home buyers have had similar experiences and the detriment it causes to our community. … [Read more...]
Neighbor for a Neighbor
I work in a non-profit organization that helps new Americans to get access to opportunities. I witnessed a situation that gave me hope about racial equality in HoCo. It was a US citizen, a white guy that called to our organization to help a family that recently moved to their neighborhood, they didn't speak English and this neighbor just step up and call us to get some help and opportunities for this family just because he saw that need. That gave me hope, it wasn't someone that he knew for a … [Read more...]
Housing Barriers
I work with survivors with domestic violence and sexual violence, as a therapist. One of the ongoing challenges many survivors face - disproportionately survivors of color - is barriers to safe, affordable housing in HoCo. There is the issue of lack of affordable housing, and then the almost impossible process of trying to locate affordable housing (on top of minimal available time = folks already working several jobs, often having limited access to adequate transportation, not to mention other … [Read more...]
Suburbs and Segregation
This weekend my family went to Western Regional Park. We probably saw 200 people - not one African American. Made me upset at the history that underlies that of hate and risk in that area. Made me upset at how much we accept segregated space in our county and our country. Made me worry that people had chosen to live in that space in part for segregation - and made me concerned about how we can make more racial equity real in our county if many of our residents choose where they are to be away … [Read more...]
