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Blog archive

November 2024

Event of Remembrance
11/22/2024

Phishing Scams: What You Need to Know
11/22/2024

Pupusas Family Style: Another Adventurous Dining Winner
11/22/2024

Celebrating the Holidays
11/21/2024

Genealogy Group: Discovering Our Pasts
11/21/2024

Nathan Wolford – From Tragedy to Ministry
11/21/2024

Pasadena Village Board of Directors: A Brief Overview
11/21/2024

President's Message
11/21/2024

The Day of the Dead (Dia de muertos)/ Mexican Culture/Community
11/21/2024

Vintage Celebration: Aging Like a Fine Wine
11/21/2024

Review of Racism in Our Local Past
11/20/2024

Creative Juices Flow in The Village
11/19/2024

Checking In by Ed Rinderle
11/15/2024

Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo
11/15/2024

I Shall Forget You Presently, My Dear (Sonnet IV) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
11/15/2024

Pictures From Brueghel by William Carlos Williams
11/15/2024

October 2024

ARBORIST WALK: NOT FOR TREE HUGGERS ONLY!
10/29/2024

Bill Wishner: Visual Hunter
10/29/2024

Can a Village Group Fix Our Healthcare System?
10/29/2024

Community Board Directors Strengthen Village Board
10/29/2024

Connecting with Village Connections: The A, B, C, & D’s of Medicare @ 65+
10/29/2024

Grief is a Journey: Two Paths Taken
10/29/2024

Message from the President
10/29/2024

Promoting Informed & Involved Voters
10/29/2024

What Will Be Your Legacy?
10/29/2024

1619, Approaching the Election...
10/27/2024

Beyond and Within the Village - A Star is Born
10/17/2024

Happiness by Priscilla Leonard
10/11/2024

Those Winter Sundays by Robert Hayden
10/11/2024

Unpainted Door by Louise Gluck
10/11/2024

In the Evening by Billy Collins
10/10/2024

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
10/10/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

Betty Kilby, A Family History
10/01/2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

March 2024

February 2024

January 2024

1619, Approaching the Election...

By Richard Myers
Posted: 10/27/2024
Tags: race, election

The 1619, Lingering Imprint Discussion Group met October 18, 2024 at 12:00 PM, PST.

The group was joined by Sharon Kyle and Dick Price, writers and publishers of LA Progressive (laprogressive.com). LA Progressive is an online newsletter, which publishes daily.

The conversation began with Dick Price sharing an experience demonstrating the gap in racial understanding that exists even between individuals who have known one another over an extended period of time.  Dick indicated that he had published an article previously appearing in the newsletter.  He did not consult with Sharon and learned that the article was deeply offensive to her.  The article concerned an African American film producer who was followed by security in a store and the outcome of this.

Sharon began by stressing that no matter how long individuals have known one another  (Sharon and Dick have been married over 20 years), individuals bring a lens with them through which they view events and experiences. In this case they saw the incident as emotional, seeing the treatment of a producer through the lens of a black women thinking of her son and a white man seeing it as an example of inappropriate behavior.

Sharon and Dick then used this example of seeing through a different lens to highlight behaviors in the current election. They contrasted the openness, optimism and inclusion of one candidate with the fear mongering and manipulation of the other candidate.  This led to a discussion about the concerns for anti-democratic ideas being used in campaigning.  The burden placed on Black, Brown and LGBTQ individuals was discussed with cultural, racial and gender differences being acknowledged as important to consider and understand.

Sharon interjected a personal note related to the last point.  She shared that her son is running for a seat on the City Council in Lomita, California.  Lomita is part of the "South Bay" section of Los Angeles County and has historically been a white majority.  Sharon shared her concerns as her son campaigns at events and during community visits.  If he is elected, he would be the first African American on the Council.

This led to a discussion about Kamala Harris and the dangers that surround her as a candidate.  One participant saying their concerns were based on the election of Barak Obama and the reception he received.

Further discussion revealed an understanding that the election system has deficiencies.  Yet, some believed this could be a turning point in the country and were hopeful. Another participant pointed to the increase in civic engagement as a positive and recommended avoiding that assumption that some people are good and some people are bad.

A final brief discussion touched on the media and news cycle.  The challenge is presenting balanced news versus the current monetized systems appealing to specific mind sets. One participant described it as a “race to the bottom.”

During the discussion, the following books were suggested as helpful to broadening understanding:

"How the Irish Became White", Noel Ignatiev. 1995

"West of Jim Crow: The Fight Against California's Color Line"   Lynn Hudson. 2020

Two recently published books that might be of interest:

"Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame and the Rise of the Right"   Arlie Russell Hochschild. September, 2024

"The Latino Century: How America's Largest Minority is Transforming Democracy"  Mike Madrid September, 2024

This presentation was recorded and can be found on our Pasadena Village YouTube channel. 

Sharon and Dick previously spoke to us in June of 2023 about Mixed Race Marriage. 

Our next meeting will be November 15th at Noon Pacific to 1:30pm. Our guest speaker will be Lynn Hudson who will be talking about her new book, West of Jim Crow. Hudson grew up in Pasadena and will include in her discussion of race in California specific information related to Pasadena.

Guests are welcome at our 1619, Th Lingering Imprint discussions. For information about participating, contact our office at info@pasadenavillage.org or by phone (626) 765-6037.

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