Devionne Fugett: The erasure of a Black woman’s contribution and the real focus of the story

We, along with several Black leaders in the state of Colorado, are deeply concerned after reading the article titled “Auon’tai Anderson protests Englewood school board’s public comment changes in duct tape demonstration” on June 5. The narrative presented in the piece not only glosses over crucial details but also blatantly erases the significant contributions of the Black woman who established the Green Book Initiative, MiDian Holmes – CEO of Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership. This initiative has been pivotal in promoting equity and inclusion within our community, and its founder’s efforts deserve recognition, not omission.

The Green Book Initiative, inspired by the historical “Green Book” guide for Black travelers, aims to create safe and inclusive spaces for the Black community within our modern context. MiDian Holmes, along with a team of Black, female educators and researchers founded this initiative and worked tirelessly to foster environments where Black individuals can thrive, free from the pervasive discrimination that still exists today. By failing to acknowledge her role, the article contributes to a pattern of overlooking Black women’s contributions to social progress — a pattern that must be rectified.

Moreover, the focus of the story seems skewed towards sensationalism rather than the substantive issues at hand. The portrayal of the Englewood meeting as a platform for demonizing a former leader detracts from the real and pressing concerns of the Black community. It appears the article aims to attract clicks and views through controversy rather than providing a thoughtful analysis of the systemic issues that prompted the demonstration.

The demonstration at the Englewood meeting was not merely a reaction to individual actions but a response to ongoing systemic injustices faced by the Black community. The narrative should have centered on these injustices and the community’s demand for transparency, accountability, and humane treatment. By reducing the story to a conflict involving a former leader, the article undermines the gravity of the community’s grievances and the broader struggle for racial justice.

Journalism has a responsibility to amplify systemically impacted voices and highlight the root causes of societal issues. In this instance, the erasure of the Green Book Initiative’s founder and the shift in focus towards sensationalism is a disservice to readers seeking to understand the real dynamics at play. It is imperative that media outlets recognize their role in shaping public discourse and strive to present comprehensive and balanced narratives. Only by centering the experiences and voices of those most impacted by injustice can we hope to achieve true equity and inclusion.

In conclusion, we urge the authors and editors to reconsider the framing of their stories and to prioritize the stories that matter — those that highlight the efforts to combat systemic racism and those that give due credit to the individuals leading these efforts. The community deserves nothing less than a truthful and respectful representation of their struggles and triumphs.

Devionne Fugett is a Board Director for the Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership.

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