You may know I have long supported and advocated for manatees, and for women who need a hand to become economically independent.

But it’s not those I want to mention today. The year gone by since George Floyd’s death has affected me more than I would have expected. I lived through the 1960s Civil Rights Movement and everything that has happened since. By now I thought I’d seen all I needed for understanding and compassion.

Even with all I’ve seen, the events of last year reached deep inside me. I can’t look at fashion photos of the past without seeing the lack of diversity. I can’t help but notice how few Black Americans have made it into fashion history books, even when richly deserving.

It’s not enough to just care.

As Amanda Gorman spoke at the inauguration of President Biden—

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
It’s the past we step into
And how we repair it

Caring is a verb, and the work is ongoing.

#vintagefashionnotvintagevalues

(BTW, this is my design—how do you like it? I have it on a couple of items in a Zazzle shop, and am donating half of my proceeds on sales in the shop to Facing History.)

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