I originally posted this back in 2012, but the weight and vital importance of Kitty's story is as powerful as ever. Like many women of a certain age, growing up in the 1970's, we often heard about Kitty as a cautionary tale as we took part in activities after dark -- particularly in urban strongholds like Chicago and New York City. When we'd dare to ride our bikes and skateboards into the late evening, we'd hear her story. When we were on our way out, alone, to babysit or work into the late evening, we'd hear her story. Whenever we went out to punk rock shows, movies or parties into the late night, we'd hear her story. Whenever we took the subway or bus home late at night by ourselves, we'd hear her story. And when the time came to move out on our own as post-college young adults into unfamiliar neighborhoods and large apartment buildings, we'd hear her story.
Kitty's presence in this world should never be forgotten. It's a blinding light reminding us that we should never give in to being ruled by fear, hate and apathy. She was more than just a Facebook post or a blurb on twitter. She had a life. Family, friends and a loving life partner. Dreams, desires and hopes, like any of us dare to believe might come true.
Honor her memory....
Dare to give a damn about what's happening right outside your door....and KEEP giving a damn.
On
March 13th, 1964, Kitty Genovese was brutally attacked and raped while
trying to make it home from her late shift at work. She would've been almost 80 years old this coming July. Maybe still living a loving, committed
relationship with her partner, Mary Ann...with grown children of their
own...and loving grandchildren...or at least a crowd of beloved friends
and other loved ones who cared for her as deeply as any of us care for
the loved ones around us. But on March 13th, 1964, her future was
violently ripped away from her. And a very large number of witnesses
(some said it was around 38 people) heard her calls for help tucked
away inside their safe apartments...but no one responded to her
screams. Not one.
Dare to care about the community you're living in.
Whether it's an apartment building in a densely populated big city or
homes in the far-flung suburbs and rural areas, dare to give a damn and
get to know the people living near/around you. Fear, racism,
xenophobia and ignorance have a mighty hold on our society that gets
worse every day. It's too easy to sink back behind our burglar bars
and security doors and turn the tv or computer volume up to drown out
the life around us. As Kitty's case unfolded, there was no shortage of
racist bigots who tried to use her murder as a wedge to keep blacks
and whites divided and perpetuating the ideas of wild black men on the
loose to rape and kill delicate, white women. Men of ALL races commit violence, rape and murder against women of every race. They did in Kitty's time and they STILL do today. Many people still sink back in the quiet shadows when they see crimes being committed or hear screams outside their windows. Dare to be different.
Dare to care. Get to know your neighbors and dare to speak up when
you see something bad happening. Honor Kitty's memory and dare to care
about the people in your community and the quality of life around you.
**If you've never heard her story before, please listen to this interview featuring her life partner, Mary Ann Zielonko, who lovingly speaks about her and the life they shared together. So bittersweet: http://soundportraits.org/on-air/remembering_kitty_genovese/
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