‘I’m a white man with a white kid. Never once have I had to fear jogging, walking in the park, or shopping at a convenience store.’: Man urges ‘stand up for our black brothers and sisters’

“I’m a white man.

I have never once feared going for a jog. Not once have I worried about a walk in the park. Never in my life have I felt uncomfortable shopping at a convenience store.

My son is a white kid.

I haven’t had to teach him to fear any of these things. It’s never even crossed my mind that I would need to. He was born a color that allows me not to have to have these conversations.

He and I will never know what it’s like to be a black man in America.

I’m like most of you. I have a ton of black friends. Some I’d call best friends. I hurt for them. For all of them. Not just today. But everyday. To wake up and to live in constant fear that they could be the next headline.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how we fix this. All I know is that I stand for and with them. And I know I just can’t sit in silence.

I guess if enough of us white people take a stand and speak up, then eventually something can change. I don’t know what that looks like, I just know that I’m sick and tired of people that we love so much, people that are just like you and me, senselessly being killed. Because of the color of their skin.

I am at a loss. I hurt. I’m sick. But I’m not scared. Not for me. Not for my kids. I was born white and don’t have to be scared. But I’m scared for all my black brothers and sisters.

I don’t know where my white friends stand on all of this but if you’re not standing with them, you’re not standing with me and I’m done standing with you.

I never get political. But this isn’t about politics. This is about people. And we need to speak up, stand up, and be better.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Brandon Janous of Knoxville, TN. You can follow his journey on Instagram. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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