Protests May Prompt Dialogue On Racism, But ‘It’s Going To Be Uncomfortable’

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People are reflected in a window near a flower arrangement that includes the acronym for Black Lives Matter as they wait in line to attend the public viewing for George Floyd at the Fountain of Praise church on June 8, 2020 in Houston.

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The insurance business owner knew that some people wouldn’t like the message, but he thought people would respectfully agree to disagree.

«I was totally blindsided. It was unnerving, he said. «They threatened with physically destroying our office, they called for a boycott of our business, people posted photos of my family online. No one wanted to have a conversation, they were just making threats and demands.

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Le Hoang Nguyen received threats after putting up this billboard in Houston after George Floyd was killed.

Le Hoang Nguyen

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Le Hoang Nguyen

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She wrote about attending the town’s annual Fourth of July picnic. «We were met with stares, rudeness, just the feeling of uneasiness, and about the times at the playground with her daughter when people would ask if she’s a nanny or if she lives here. She said she’s felt unwelcome. People often made assumptions about her and her politics, especially during President Barack Obama’s tenure.

Randall Nebel said she wrote her email to start a real give and take conversation on race with her neighbors, but that didn’t happen. Several responded to Randall Nebel’s email but the moderators made the decision to not publish them essentially halting the conversation.

Randall Nebel describes her neighborhood as largely liberal, «but liberal where it’s [a] ‘not in my backyard’ and ‘it’s not my problem’ type thing.

«This conversation, this dialogue has to happen [in the open] in order for us to get past or move on, she said. «I was waiting for it.

Randall Nebel said she values the opportunities her daughter has had living in the tree-lined suburban town, but as one of the few black residents she has also felt isolated.

«Don’t do it because it’s fashionable

According to the 2010 Census, 94.3% of residents in the Town of Chevy Chase are white. The town is a subdivision of Chevy Chase, an expansive residential area founded by a segregationist, Sen. Francis G. Newlands in the late 1800s. Blacks and Jews were not welcome. Part of Newland’s legacy is a prominent sandstone fountain named for the senator. Last month a neighborhood commission voted to change the name.

The Black Lives Matter movement is challenging convention, from the symbolism of the 82-year old fountain to BLM lawn signs.

Soon after Floyd was killed, Randall Nebel’s neighbors began raising the question of how to lend their voices to the social justice movement. Several people mentioned Black Lives Matter yard signs. Soon they began popping up in her neighborhood, Randall Nebel said.

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«I got tired of everybody going, ‘Hey, let’s get these Black Lives Matter signs and put them in our yard,' she said. «I’m like, don’t do it because it’s fashionable.

She says it’s telling that many in her community felt safe putting up a BLM yard sign, but open dialogue made some uncomfortable.

Sharing her experiences felt cathartic for Randall Nebel.

«It was a relief, she said. «It was a weight off of my shoulders, because I had been holding it in for a long time.

After Randall Nebel’s listserv email, the town formed a committee on racial and social justice to foster conversation. She sees that as progress, but says white people need to be willing to do the hard work and not expect Black people to explain racism, she said, «because we are tired of it.