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2020 was a year that laid bare our deep divisions as a nation. Over the past few months, America Amplified reporter Megan Feeney has been following up with a small group of Nebraskans to find out how they’ve been navigating their lives in a year defined by a pandemic, a Presidential election and increased awareness of racial injustice.
“The majority of my white associates, or people that I go to church with, we don't have any of the same views. And they don't even try to understand my views..." Bridgett Belsky. (Photo by Lasha Goodwin, America Amplified)
During a summer of nationwide racial reckoning and protests against systemic racism, mother and daughter Bridgett and Brooke Belsky, who are Black, hoped they could find comfort at their place of worship in Omaha.
To their disappointment, they discovered people at their mostly white evangelical church still didn’t want to discuss racism in America.
“It wasn't until I felt like I needed to pull from the strength of the church that I recognized I was unable to do so,” Bridgett says. “At a time where we're struggling and having these deep conversations, and shedding tears and really having to fall on our knees and pray for strength....no one was trying to be there for me. My white evangelical friends are just so apathetic to Black oppression here in America.”
“I'm pretty blessed to have some friends who have the same views as me, because they may not be African American, but they have their own situations where they're also feeling like they aren't accepted.” Brooke Belsky. (Photo by Lasha Goodwin, America Amplified)
Her 17-year-old daughter Brooke agrees.
“The morals at our church are, step out of your comfort zone, do things that you’re not used to... And I feel like this is one of them. But they're still kind of avoiding it.”
Thankfully, Brooke found support from her friends.
“I'm pretty blessed to have some friends who have the same views as me, because they may not be African American, but they have their own situations where they're also feeling like they aren't accepted.”
Bridgett hasn’t had as much luck among her own peers.
“The majority of my white associates, or people that I go to church with, we don't have any of the same views. And they don't even try to understand my views, and the conversations I've been having to have with them about race, I've been having for years. I feel like I'm yelling into a pillow. And no one is listening.”
Bridgett says she will continue to rely upon her faith in hard times, and encourages Brooke to do the same.
“I want you to be a woman of God, because you got to pull on that strength from somewhere. I just want you to know that I'm super proud of you. And we will make it together. We will make it through these times.”
Megan Feeney produced this story as part of the America Amplified: Election 2020 initiative, using community engagement to inform and strengthen local, regional and national journalism. America Amplified is a public media initiative funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. You can follow America Amplified on Twitter @amplified2020.