The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King re-framed the American dream for the millions of oppressed and dispossessed citizens who longed for opportunity and equality. His dream was of a “beloved community,” of which he spoke in a 1956 speech. King wrote, “We must prepare to live in a new world. I would like to suggest some things that we must do to live in this new world, to prepare to live in it, the challenges that confront us. The first thing is this, that we must rise above the narrow confines of our individualistic concerns, with a broader concern for all humanity. You see, this new world is a world of geographical togetherness. No individual can afford to live alone now. The nation cannot live alone for we have been brought together.”
As we know, despite progress, racial inequality is still prevalent in America. This racial inequality creates economic inequality. But economic inequality transcends race. Gender inequality, especially for older Americans, has left millions of women facing the challenge of finding affordable housing for what should be their “golden years.” As more and more baby boomers move into retirement, the economic disparity has created a nation where the financially comfortable live in comfort and those with limited resources find themselves living in vans and cars. It is the opposite of the beloved community.
If we, as a nation, rose above the narrow confines of individualistic concerns, affordable housing would be a priority for people of all ages. And our elders, the repository of wisdom and experience, would be cherished and honored, instead of manipulated for political gain. What a shame that age is an issue in the current presidential campaign.
My Raven Ridge dream is to create a place of equity and belonging for older Americans, and a place of retreat and renewal for those who love nature. A retirement community and retreat center that work symbiotically with each other and with the land that offers hospitality. A beloved community.
While ten affordable housing units will not solve the systemic and growing crisis we face, justice and equity do have ripple effects. Justice begets justice. Equity begets equity. And hope becomes reality.
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