Blue Water Woman--Summer 2020--Interactive

EDITOR/PUBLISHER
PATTI SAMAR
FROM THE EDITOR
I began planning this issue of Blue Water Woman a month or so into the pandemic. I
decided to dedicate the issue and the stories to the women on the frontline who were
facing the pandemic head-on in our community. I asked around, discovered some very
good story ideas, and began the process of putting the magazine together.
Then, George Floyd was murdered at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
The floodgates of racial unrest, long simmering in this country, finally bubbled and
boiled over.
I knew, as I watched protests and racial equality events take place across both our
nation and the world, that I needed to dedicate a story to race in this issue
of Blue Water Woman. A couple of years ago, when some of the worst public
examples of racism since the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 began
erupting across the nation, I began making a concerted effort to feature a
story about at least one woman of color in every issue of the magazine.
My philosophy has always been this: EVERY woman in our community
has a story to tell. Sadly, I will never get around to telling all of them.
However, it is important to make sure the pages of this magazine reflect the
community in which we live.
It has not always been easy seeking and finding those stories, and not
because there are not an overwhelming number of stories to tell about
women of color. Absolutely, there are. But, I found that, sadly, shamefully, in
my own circle of friends and acquaintances, there are not a lot of people of
color, so I am not necessarily hearing of their stories.
To learn more, I had to contact people of color I do know and explain my
situation: I am interested in shining a light on the stories that need to be told.
It was, at first, awkward. One of the first conversations I had about this was
with my friend, Port Huron City Councilwoman Anita Ashford, who was so
kind and so open to what I’m sure was my very awkward explanation.
You see, in my life, no one has ever talked to me about the color of skin,
just like no one has ever talked to me about the color of my eyes. The color
of my skin is not something that I’ve ever needed to think about when I
wake up in the morning and plan my day.
Black people in America cannot say the same thing. They have to think
about it. They have to talk to their children about it. And that is a damn
shame.
In this issue, I share with you my conversation with Jessica Totty, a licensed
practical nurse, who has, in her position at Lake Huron Medical Center, served on the
front lines of the pandemic. Jessica is Mexican American and her husband, Kevin, is
African American. Together, they have mixed race (now grown) children. Jessica was
kind enough to have an open conversation with me about race in our community, and
what it was like for her raising children of color here.
My biggest take away from my conversation with Jessica was when she said this to me:
“I’m hoping, also, that this whole movement does not become a bucket list item,” she
said. “‘I participated in a march…I’m talking to people of color now…’ and that six
months from now, we are back at square one.
“I hope that this is about change, peace and sensitivity.”
I am with Jessica, in hoping for change, peace and sensitivity, too. I am committed
to continuing to share the stories of women of color in this magazine, and working for
change in our community.
Please join me.
Patti Samar
Editor & Publisher
Blue Water Woman
SUMMER 2020 BLUEWATERWOMAN.COM 3