The day after I sent our June issue to the printer, we headed to Cheaha State Park for a much needed weekend of camping. As our first getaway since the pandemic hit, we were grateful for perfect weather, a spacious wooded site and, best of all, zero phone service. We ventured out on scenic hikes and cooled off in the crystal clear pools of picturesque waterfalls. We watched the sun set on the mountains and we lounged in our hammocks. For the first time in a long time, the world felt at peace.

It was especially refreshing to not have a reason to pick up our phones, but as we headed home, messages and notifications from the weekend started rolling in. With reluctance, I started reading what we had missed—photos showed friends at protests in various cities and headlines spoke of looting and fires. George Floyd was murdered days before we departed for the mountains and emotions across the country raged while we were disconnected.

My feelings of tranquility faded as I watched the spotlight shining brightly on the racism that exists in America. As a historian with a vested interest in race relations and civil rights, my husband Josh has been well aware of the injustices that people of color have endured in this country. And although the two of us talk quite frequently about the importance of diversity and how we can foster inclusivity in our kids while living in a mostly white community, my mind has been blown open as I’ve dug deeper into educating myself about systemic racism. I find it incredibly hard to fathom and my initial response was a sense of deep sadness and helplessness. The issue seems so vast and deeply rooted.

Despite my personal realization that I have much to learn, doing nothing wasn’t an option. I first vowed to finish a book I had started in the Fall: White Kids, Growing Up With Privilege in a Racially Divided America by Margaret A. Hagerman. I also read Jewell Parker Rhodes’s Ghost Boys with my oldest son Mays (age 10) so he could imagine what other kids his own age face. I sat down with both Mays and Thatch (6) for a conversation that went beyond our usual talks of valuing inclusivity and diversity. I told them about George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. We brainstormed ways to make people of color feel welcome. And we talked about how each of us benefits from white privilege every day.

I was also discovering new social media accounts of black leaders to follow, but I had trouble finding local connections. This inspired me to work on an article for this month’s issue that would amplify voices of color from within our own community. With the help of friends pointing me in the right direction, I interviewed numerous, inspiring individuals and each conversation gave me a bigger glimpse into black lives, along with actionable guidance for how we can all do better.

I quickly realized that the one article I was working on was actually three, which has led me to introduce a new monthly department—Diverse Conversations. These monthly articles will be written to foster interracial dialogue and empathy while spotlighting local people of color, because we believe that diverse and equitable communities are healthy communities.

Right before the printing of this issue, my family attended our first peaceful protest together. Eager to participate, we rode our bikes into town. Rounding the corner of the civic center, we were struck by a beautiful sight: hundreds of fellow community members of all colors and ages, standing in silence together in memory of George Floyd. I was flooded with emotions as we joined the group. I will never forget peacefully processing through downtown Fairhope while holding our handmade signs and answering all of Thatch’s questions about what we were chanting and why. The march and the interfaith prayer gathering that followed fueled my sense of hope, as I witnessed a collective willingness to cultivate empathy and respect for all. I don’t feel helpless anymore, I feel empowered.

Join me in keeping these conversations moving forward; together we can begin to understand one another and create a more equitable world.

With gratitude,

Meredith Montgomery, Publisher