In the weeks since I penned an Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick,an increasing number of athletes have begun kneeling during the national anthem, and there have been two high-profile police shootings: Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, OK and Keith Scott in Charlotte, NC. I stand by everything I said in the letter, and I maintain that despite its flaws the United States of America is one of the greatest nations on earth.
BUT...
do not think that means I'm not as hurt, disappointed, frustrated, and angry at these most recent shootings. Here's the thing--we live in a world of grays and not the stark contrasts some would have us believe.
You can be outraged by the shooting deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of law enforcement and still think the national anthem is worth standing for (read the post to understand why I feel that way); you can respect the police and still call them out when they're wrong; you can show empathy and love to your African-American colleagues and neighbors who are angry and hurting even if you don't understand why and you don't agree with the protests.
America has work to do...and that work is ugly and messy and hard. I don't know how we'll get there but I believe we will because that's what Americans do...but I do believe communication is the starting point. Let's talk TO each other and not AT each other. You don't understand this post--email me. You see someone demand the Tulsa officer be indicted and you don't agree--talk to them. Your friends are outraged at Colin not standing for the national anthem but remain silent about unarmed shootings--ask them why. Our experiences may differ but what brings us together is stronger than what tears us apart.
