Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Let’s talk about BLM

In response to Dorothy Payne’s letter to the editor (“White lives matter, too”, July 26, 2020):

Ms. Payne, my first thought on reading your letter is that you have lost your sense of personal comfort in Spokane. Has your status quo been challenged? Do you hear, read or see comments and actions that you feel disrupt your sense of community?

I’m not sure that hearing statistics behind the movement right now would help you calm your visceral sentiments. I invite you to explore more about the history behind Black Lives Matter. There are deeper reasons for this national realization of chronic systemic racism. Please don the hat of curiosity and open yourself up to more exploration.

We whites — indeed, everyone in our nation — have been steeped in a centuries-old racism that is as invisible to us as the air we breathe. If you are interested in exploring this at a deeper level, please ask the editor to provide my email to you. I’m hoping we can have a deeper conversation about this.

Deborah Cano

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy