I Am Not Afraid Of You, Nor The Color Of Your Skin

By

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
– Desmond Tutu

Behind violence and anger, lies fear. Why do people fear those that are different than them? Why do people fear others based on religion, sexual preference, or the color of their skin?

I am white.
I am not afraid of you.

I’m also not the same as you.

I understand this today, more than I ever have in my life. I’ve always thought we’re all equal, we’re all the same – but as society continues to prove to me the reality that I’m in; I don’t think that anymore.

I am now a person that celebrates differences in humanity and I am comfortable saying out loud, that we’re not all the same. I am a person that believes, our differences could save the world – if we worked together.

I celebrate you for being black, not because you have more pigment in your skin than me, or because your braids are cool, but because you’re full of history, and perseverance, and love and peace. Your culture is strong, and people have been trying to tear you down for years.

You are different from me. You are beautiful. I celebrate you. I respect you. I think you’re smart. I think you’re capable of anything, I think you are changing the world in beautiful ways.

I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU.

The world has proved to me that violence is about individual intolerance and fear – no race, religion, or sexuality can be held responsible for a sick individual’s actions.

Until we stop fearing one another, we can’t move past this.

I can’t keep quiet and sad any longer. It’s time to be loud and sad.

I stand up for you. I will speak out for you, because I am not afraid.