I would like to take this time to formally address, as best I can in regards to such a broad and complex issue, the racism in America. Awareness is exploding right now - in the streets, on social media, and finally at the governmental level - but the systematic oppression of Black American is not new. Our country was built by slaves, and, although African American’s freedom was granted in 1863, that never meant equality. That never meant an end to suffering, limited opportunity, and struggles that I, and every other white American, will not ever have to battle. 

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I do not pretend to know everything about Black history in the United States, although I am reading and trying to learn more. What I do know, and what I want to share with all of you, is the disproportionately low access to food that Black Americans experience as a result of America’s racist system. Eric Mitchell, director of government relations, Bread for the World, said that these high rates of food insecurity are largely due to unemployment, low wages, mass incarceration, and minimal access to proper nutrition. All of this has been exacerbated by Covid - locally in Massachusetts, Black Americans account for 15% of Covid cases while they only make up 8% of the population. Across America, Black unemployment rates have raised to 16.7% (as opposed to 14.2% for white Americans).

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The benefits of good food cannot be understated. Proper nutrition leads to not only less risk of disease, but also improved academic and work-place performance. Thus, while adequate fuel will not by any means ‘solve’ racial disparities in the United States, it is an important step to ensure that Black Americans have the same opportunities to prosper as any other citizen. Nobody Goes Hungry is doing its best to serve Black Americans in the Franklin County community, and the more bags we can donate, the more people can be fed. However, NGH is a very small part of a much larger solution. We all need to read and learn about the system that resulted in such unequal food access. Start with the links in this article, but dive deeper and spend time understanding the roots of the problem. We need to speak up and act now to change this system. If you cannot donate, there is so much you can do. Just don’t be passive: Black American’s suffering has continued for far too long, and it is in no small part due to white Americans’ unwillingness to take action and change a system that doesn’t negatively affect them. If you haven’t started already, start now. We need to change our country, and we need to do it together.

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Juliette Lowe