• What’s your ethnic and religious heritage?
African American/Christian
• What’s your earliest memory of becoming aware that some people looked different from you?
My family and I took a trip to Gatlinburg when I was a little girl. We went to a Sunday service and I was escorted to go to the nursery/children class. I was the only black child in the room. As I walked in they just stared and I stared back.That’s the earliest memory for me when I realized.
• What’s one way you think your life would have been different had you been born another race?
I honestly don’t know how different my life would be. The only way I would know is if I was white. I can say that with everything that comes with being black, I wouldn’t want to be anything else. We lit!
• How can white people be better allies to the black community?
There are many ways for white people to be better allies to the black community. For starters, they can speak up and use their privilege. When you see racial injustice within the black community don’t ignore it or downplay it. Don’t turn the other cheek because you feel it isn’t something that affects you. If all lives really matter act like it. Next, they can educate themselves on the Black Lives Matter movement. To be pro-black isn’t anti-white. Black people are continuously being slaughtered and discriminated against by the very people who are supposed to serve and protect all. We are angry and tired and we want justice. We want to be treated based on our character rather than the color of our skin. Last but definitely not least, take a step back and put yourself in another person’s shoes, who doesn’t look like you. How would you feel if your brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, or father was discriminated against and murdered by the people who are supposed to protect them…..WITH NO JUSTICE?! There has to be a sense of empathy and compassion. We have to come together. It’s not black against white. Its EVERYBODY against racist.
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