A Letter to my Black Friends

To My Black friends,

At first, I heard you talk about injustice and because I had not seen it or felt that I did not inflict it upon you, I refused to listen to your voice. But now you are talking so loud that I can ignore you no longer. I have begun to listen. 

Let me start by saying I am sorry for my apathy, for not pausing long enough to listen. I think I hear you say that you are a displaced people. You feel second class. You are so much more than what is being shown to me by the media. You have been doing great things for the longest time in obscurity and most times the credit goes to a white person. Your identities were stripped from you as you were enslaved. You were forced to bear the last names of men who hated you. Even though you were “given” freedom you have not been accepted for who you are.

My heart grieves as I finally hear. I hear the hurt and the pain. I don’t want you to feel this way.

I want to do something. What can I do? 

I do not wish to be your bullhorn because then it is my voice that is heard and I don’t want that. I don’t wish to be a white savior. I realize this is a fight that has to come from you. I BELIEVE in YOU my black friend. I believe you are strong enough. I believe you are smart enough. I believe you ARE enough.

I think one of the best things I can do is to get out of your way and Let.You.Do.It. Find your place. Change our world! Change MY world.

You can tell me of the wonderful things that you are doing. Tell me how influential to American culture you are. Tell me what it is you want to tell me.

If you see me silent it is because I’ve chosen to stop talking so you can be heard. 

 #iamlistening