I’ve been writing letters to the Richmond Free Press for more than 12 years. I have never been at a loss for words. I have never grappled to organize my thoughts. I have had a 40-year love affair with words and politics, yet, this morning, I am empty.

My Jewish conservative Republican friend called from California crying — no words. Most of my friends and family have turned to the Scriptures, but no words of their own. 

My wife said she just wanted to go back to sleep like it all was a bad dream.

Everyone was quiet at the corner 7-Eleven this morning.

Even my mother in South Carolina was escaping through working in her fall garden. “No time to talk,” she said.

A loud silence was everywhere.

We can’t afford to stay silent long. We have too much to lose. The pundits pontificated that the election of Donald Trump was about white males giving voice to displeasure with America. White males are saying America is headed in the wrong direction. They have fallen prey to the vision of 1950s America.

But remember that out of the 1950s America came 1960s America. We, as a people, organized. We, as a people, advanced our voice in the face of racism, segregation and ignorance. We, as a people, stood up every time we were knocked down.

Nov. 9, 2016, must be the day we roll our calendars back to when we were truly stronger together.

This morning, African-Americans woke up, not in a different America, but one that never really changed, never evolved from the America of 50 years ago. Today, we must not let down those who braved the battle back then.

One of the black men who braved the battle was Mr. Raymond H. Boone, the late founder and publisher of the Richmond Free Press. A dozen years ago, he walked across 5th Street to meet the young man running the Hotel John Marshall. He encouraged me to lend my voice to the struggle.

In the middle of all the silence around me this morning, Mr. Boone came to mind. No, no, this is not a time to be silent.

Clarence Chapman Jr.

Richmond