MOLINE, Ill. — On Friday, June 5, 2020, two local reverends joined Elizabeth Wadas for the 6:30 p.m. newscast; Reverend Dr. Melvin Grimes from Tabernacle Church in Moline and Reverend P. Wonder Harris from Mount Zion Baptist Church in East Moline. The show was a space for the audience to listen and to learn about racial inequalities from members of our black community after George Floyd, a black man, was killed in the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.
Part 2:
The first topic the reverends discussed was how the death of George Floyd affected them, as black men, and how Floyd's death created a deep wound in the entire black community in America.
Next, Reverend Dr. Grimes and Reverend Harris discussed systemic racism, and where racism began. Reverend Harris brings us the history of racism in our country, specifically from where he grew up in the south. Reverend Grimes grew up in Rock Island, Illinois, and digs deep into racism he experienced growing up, including being told by his second-grade teacher he was never going to go to college.
And finally, Reverend Dr. Grimes and Reverend Harris wrap up the newscast by giving everyone two things they can do to help fight racism in our community. Reverend Harris says people should not focus on someone's skin color. And Reverend Dr. Grimes says people need to start having open conversations about race and racism.