‘We have to be part of the solution’: White woman walking for racial equality stops in Huntsville

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A white woman from Illinois is taking on a 754 mile journey from Chicago to Montgomery in an effort to raise awareness for racial equality.

Rachelle Zola made a stop in Huntsville and spent Saturday speaking with community members about the importance of her efforts.

Admittedly, Zola says she never thought about what African Americans have gone through, but she’s committed herself to changing that at age 76.

“I wasn’t thinking about black lives, I wasn’t thinking about the depth of the harm and trauma that happens everyday in the black community,” Zola said.

Zola is putting racial justices on the map through a solo theatre performance meant to highlight the reality of racism in America and sharing the stories of African Americans she’s connected with.

Zola’s performance was witnessed by several members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville on Saturday.

She explained how white people like herself need to acknowledge their privilege while also recognizing the reality that Black Americans have to live through each day.

“A black person walks into a restaurant. As an example, they’re not served, it’s like they’re invisible they have to wait 10 minutes, 15 minutes just to get a glass of water,” Zola said. “If I walk in, someone greets me right away. We have to acknowledge something’s not right and we have to change it.”

Zola says visiting Black communities has changed her perspective by giving her a more in-depth look at what African Americans have dealt with for years.

The title of her organization, “Late Love” signifies a tribute to black people that have been dismissed and treated unfairly solely based off the color of their skin.

“Why did it take me so long to activate? I don’t know have an answer,” Zola said. “What I do know is I don’t want anyone to wait as long as I did. I want that 4 year old to know that we’re all equal and we deserve equity. We need to know our history to understand we still benefit from all these laws that have kept black people from gaining equity and we have to be part of the solution.”

Zola says togetherness is the only way racism can be eradicated and that we’re all better together.

She’s expected to arrive in Montgomery by September.

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