Bringing Back Community

By Willie Brown

Just one week ago, we woke up to news about a mentally deranged person who shot and ran over people in his truck in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve.  What began as young people celebrating and anticipating the new year ended up as a senseless tragedy.  The very next day, another unhinged man blew himself up in an explosion in front of Trump Towers in Las Vegas.  Then lightning struck the nation’s Capital Building (A warning for the president-elect?)   Now we’re faced with at least 3 major fire storms less than 20 miles of Inglewood that have been burning for 2 days with zero containment.  

It’s tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy.  What in the world is going on?

With 2025 getting off to such a rough and violent start, there has never been more reason to band together.  A convicted felon, misogynist, wanna be dictator, and white supremacist is about to be sworn in as America’s president AGAIN, and no one in power stopped him.  So, we need to hang on tightly to each other like never before.  Our survival will depend on it.  

In some ways, this country has become unrecognizable.  Drastic changes in technology, and even the climate can make us feel like the rug has been pulled from beneath us.  Many may long for a simpler time, while others feel we have not come far enough.  Why, for instance does America rank so low in healthcare as a first world country with so much money and medical technology available?  

We definitely need to embrace the new or we will fall behind.  That does not mean we should let go of everything we value.  All change isn’t good change.  And being part of a community—people who unite for the common good—is something that should never change.  

I’d like to draw your attention to a couple of items in this week’s edition that beautifully illustrates my point.  First, there is the front page story about Costco’s efforts to actually put their money where their mouth is and build housing in Baldwin Hills that is actually affordable.  This is the same company that recently took a stand against pressure from MAGA to do away with its DEI policies.  Costco came out and refused to end its practice of diversity, equity and inclusion in hiring employees and vendors.  

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Walmart.  They were quick to not only end their equal opportunity hiring policies, but went so far as to ban their vendors from hiring DEI workers.  For years, Walmart has held a reputation for job discrimination and unfair work conditions.  They have got away with offering reasonably priced health insurance to their mostly low wage employees.  They have contributed significantly to the 40% of Californians who rely on Medi-Cal.  In fact, some employees say Walmart encourages them to apply for state-sponsored medical insurance.

The second article is about a community effort to offer free food to anyone who needs it.  No ID or explanation required.  This is a great idea and solution to alleviating hunger in Inglewood and surrounding areas.  It also puts good food to use that would otherwise go to waste.  As Maya Mackey points out in her article, 120 billion pounds of food is wasted in America every year.  It sickens me to think about It when I see so many people homeless and begging for food on the street.

It’s time to get back to community—everything from offering a few dollars to homeless people, to simply speaking to your neighbors.  You never know who can benefit from your kindness.