It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.

Dr. Maya Angelou

I love this picture. It captures the essence of Maya Angelou’s quote. I can’t remember having an awareness of skin color or cultural difference before I entered the first grade. We were all just kids, playing and having fun.  In 1970, my parents gave me a “Baby Know it All” doll for Christmas. I had never really thought about it until I opened the box – this was the first time I saw a doll that didn’t have blonde hair or white skin. Although she was African American, I immediately felt that she was much more like me than my other dolls. Her hair and eyes were dark, like mine.

Dear World,

Please let today be the first day of our journey into a brighter era. That the last eight years has been difficult is a gross understatement. Rather than focus on the past and what went wrong, I’d like to focus on a brighter future.  I want to wake up on November 5th knowing that we are capable of true change, and creating a deep and powerful bonding and healing of our people and nation.