There is a song called “Turn! Turn! Turn!“, also known to listeners as “To Everything There Is a Season“, written by Pete Seeger in 1959. Seeger’s lyrics consist of the first eight verses of the 3rd chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The song was released in 1962 and became an international hit soon afterwards. The song’s lyrics are so poetic and explore the very cyclical nature of life.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

As Autumn ushers in the chilly breezes of fall, the winds of change are churning in America. This song is the fabric of life in America – and the world. Who would have thought that the slave ships that carried human cargo from Africa to the Americas would result in BIPOC communities that are the very fabric that covers this planet? I can imagine that the white colonizers who fought to maintain slavery and their sense of entitlement would be turning over in their respective graves to know that, according to Census Bureau projections, the US will become “minority white” in 2045. And in that year, the non-Hispanic white population is projected to comprise 49.7% of the total population. Turn, Turn, Turn.

As the summer sunlight triggers leaves to keep making more chlorophyll, the sun also serves as a signal for the leaf to prepare for winter and to stop making chlorophyll. When that time comes, the green color starts to fade, and the reds, oranges, and yellows become visible. Perhaps this is the Creator’s way of reminding us that change is always in the air and that we need to embrace and prepare for it.

Civil Rights, Affirmative Action, and Voting Rights may seem like America’s Winter of Discontent, but the difficult civil rights struggles and fights have made us a more civil and just society. We honor the anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first federal civil rights legislation passed since the Reconstruction era. The CRA of 1957 established the Civil Rights Division within the Department of Justice, granting the federal government the authority to protect voting rights. It set the stage for future victories, including the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

On the labor front, the second quarter of 2025 brought unfavorable news as the overall economy and labor market softened, and Americans experienced higher levels of unemployment. Media outlets are reporting that the rise in Black unemployment is often considered the “canary in the coal mine,” foretelling a slowdown for the broader job market. History has taught us that, from the earliest labor movements to today’s ongoing fight for economic justice, African Americans have stood with workers and continue to fight for equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.

My grandmother always said, “If we live long enough, winter will always rear its harsh realities, but time changes everything.” Although we are physically experiencing autumn in America, winter is not far away. As a matter of fact, winter has never really left our hemisphere.

This county is experiencing a change in season of epic proportions. The time has come to embrace or eliminate America of divisive hate and racism. It is just that simple. We need to ask ourselves, on which side of history will you sit comfortably? And are you willing and able to defend your choices to your ancestors? News outlets inform us daily of what is at stake if we get it wrong…History is a lesson in humanity, not a constant encounter with arrogance.

I often think about how great America would be if we did not have the scourge of slavery in our history books. There would be excellence ingrained in every child through free and equal educational systems. Respect and dignity for all people would be the cornerstone of the rule of law. The gentle winds of change would usher in the peace and solace of winter, both demographically and culturally.