“Not really much has changed, other than time,” Roy Smith, Brookhaven resident and member of the Lincoln County NAACP said regarding the state of race relations in the nation. “We need to put aside our biases and fear and quit saying that race doesn’t matter.”

 

With the nation riding the curtails of cases involving the deaths of unarmed black men and women and watching as more cases arise, this year’s Black History Month sees people of color all around the nation reflecting on their heritage even more so than other years. Despite the events of the last year leading up to this Black History Month people in Brookhaven are themselves, reflecting on their history, its impact on modern society and hoping for an optimistic future.

 

“What’s so disturbing is that our young people don’t know what it took to get us where we are today,” Brookhaven Police Chief, Bobby Bell said. “They need to know their history to let them know where they came from.”

 

Bell said that people of all races are quickly forgetting and not appreciating what people went though to get society where it is currently.

 

Ashley Blake-Bates who owns and operates a natural hair and body product line from her home in Brookhaven still sees room for improvement regarding black history education.

 

“I still get upset reading about things that happened in the past and the some of the things that are still happing now,” Blake-Bates said. She said that a better understanding of why things are still happening today could be solved through learning more about black history.

 

“Things have changed. Things have improved. But there are still people with the mindset that black people are lower,” Blake-Bates said. “On a national level you see it in the killings that have happened.”

 

Chief Bell said race relations are a lot better than years ago but he can see where things have become stagnant in the past 10 to 12 years. He said that this stagnation is called by politics.

 

“I don’t think we’re always looking out for what’s best for our country,” Bell said. “We’re looking at it along party lines.”

 

Smith believes education of the whole of society is the key to improving race relations. ”

 

“When we don’t know each other, we fear each other,” he said. “The only way to change is education, socially as well as spiritually.”

 

Smith also sees prayer and speaking out as a form of improving relations. He said that he likes the philosophy behind President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

 

“We’re all equal. Race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation and religion doesn’t matter because we’re all humans and deserve equal opportunities,” Smith said.

 

Smith said Lamar Smith inspires him, and acknowledged similarities in the things they were and are doing in their communities. Lamar Smith was a 63 year old farmer, World War II veteran and civil rights activist who was murdered August 13, 1955 at 10 a.m. on the steps of Brookhaven’s courthouse while he was assisting black voters with registration. No one was indicted in the case following Smith’s death.

 

“We have a lot in common, besides out last name and he’s a great inspiration to me,” Smith said.

 

Blake-Bates cites Michelle Obama as having an inspiration impact on black history.

 

“With as beautiful and with as educated as she is, she’s a perfect example of what a black woman can become,” Blake-Bates said.

 

Chief Bell acknowledged Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as someone whose influence on black history shouldn’t go unrecognized. Chief Bell said he sees MLK in such a light because of his negotiation with President Lyndon B. Johnson, his non-violent protests, and his ability to pull both races together to bring forth change.

 

“It’s time to take action, wake up and stop sleepwalking.” Smith said. “It’s hard for us to go anywhere if we don’t start somewhere.”