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“No One Simply
Passes Through”
Perhaps it was the unprecedented collaboration among HOME, CEPA, WBFO and
The NAACP. Perhaps it was the numerous merchants who donated food and
beverages, and all the individuals who gave of their time and talents. Or
perhaps it was the gathering of nearly 75 people from various professions,
races, genders and beliefs. Even still maybe it was HOME’s exhibit “What
We Can Become: Images of Civil Rights History” coupled with a HOME Players
performance that renewed a sense of hope on that snowy inaugural Tuesday.
The exhibit, on
display at CEPA from January 13th -31st ,
encompasses the history of civil rights from the Civil Rights Act of 1866
(and the founding of the Klu Klux Klan) to the present. It incorporates
many of the struggles for civil rights that were inspired by the fight for
racial justice and ends with a quote from Irena Klepfisz that reminds the
viewer of their place in the fight for civil rights for all. “No one
simply passes through…History keeps unfolding and demanding a
response.”
Debbie
Sims
of WBFO, the MC for the evening, reinforced the exhibit’s message. In
welcoming everyone to the reception, she noted that the most important
thing to come out of the evening would be a response from each of us.
Regardless of age, socio-economic status, educational background or race,
it is up to us to take a stand for justice in the small part of the world
we live in. She reminded us that one easy way to do that is to become a
member of HOME.
Many people today
are under the impression that housing discrimination no longer exists or
if they are not in a “minority group,” fair housing and other civil rights
issues do not affect them. It is important for them to understand the
many ways these issues do touch their lives and that they themselves are
possible victims of discrimination. One of the ways that people become
educated about these issues is the HOME Players.
The evening’s
performance depicted an interracial friendship marred by the ugly reality
of housing discrimination. As in many friendships, there was a great deal
of conflict about how to proceed. One of the friends wanted to report the
incident and fight back and the other wished to do nothing. After the
performance, the Players remained in character and answered questions from
the audience. During the discussion a child said to the person who wanted
to let the incident go, “It’s just like stealing. If someone stole your
purse you would tell the police, so I don’t get why you don’t want to
report this.”
Following the
performance, a call to membership was made by Frank Mesiah, President of
the Buffalo Chapter NAACP and long time member and Friend of HOME. He
spoke about the important role played by economics in the civil rights
movement. Just as we boycott businesses that do not support civil rights,
we must demonstrate our economic support for groups that do work for civil
rights and justice. HOME is one of those agencies.
His words motivated
several guests to visit HOME’s membership table. (The option to become a
member is on-going and needs no invitation. Simply see the membership box
in this issue of Insight to learn how. )
The evening was
capped off with a live performance by Allentown band Dimedtrodon and the
dancing and mingling began!
The exhibit and the
event grew out of a desire to widen HOME’s reach, educate a diverse
community about fair housing and inspire a commitment to working with HOME
for civil rights. Yet it meant so much more. The evening spoke to each
of our responsibility to the world in which we live. The exhibit also
became the inspiration for the theme of this year’s Annual Meeting and
Dinner: Living History: No One Simply Passes Through.”
Note: The civil
rights exhibit will be on display at the Langston Hughes Institute from
April 18- May 18. For more information on HOME services, membership, the
42nd Annual Meeting or upcoming events, visit www.homeny.org.
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