By Michael Kaynard, contributing photographer | Over my 65 years, I have seen a lot of change in our communities. I came from a Georgia town with water fountains and bathrooms marked “coloreds.” I still see black and white and it shames me to admit it. I don’t understand why, but it is there. For us to move forward, we have to stop seeing in black and white.

I used to see the police as more brutish than now. I now see them trying to do the best they can with not a lot of support from their communities. I know they are there to protect us, but I also know some should never be police. To be honest, the overdeveloped muscles and generally-uniform shaved heads are intimidating. I think they could do something to soften their image. If we had more officers, they could spend more time becoming a part of the community and not just enforcers.

It is said that a high tide lifts all. Has it? One of the greatest problems I see is economic inequality. I met a woman who works at Lowe’s part-time because her 15-year position in hotel reservations downtown doesn’t pay enough. Many people have to work two to three jobs to keep afloat. It just doesn’t make sense to me.