A Letter to My White Friends and Colleagues

Preface: Social Unrest, Protests, and the Podcasts

Breonna Taylor Was Shot and Killed by Police in Her Own Home¹

(March 13, 2020)

Ahmaud Arbery: Father and Son Charged with Murder of US Black Jogger²

(February 23, 2020)

George Floyd's Death Was Murder³

(June 24, 2020)

LISTED ABOVE ARE what I consider to be the three most descriptive newspaper headlines in 2020. Each captures the incidents that were the catalysts for the country's racial, social unrest, and protests, known collectively as the Black Lives Matter movement.

George Floyd was murdered by a cop who put his knee on George's neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on May 25, 2020. Six days later, amidst the continuous protests and social unrest in the country, my youngest daughter, Ariel, 32 years old, sent me the following text:

Dad,

I think you should do a podcast as if you were the President. Something to provide a voice and some guidance to Black people right now regarding how to push forward. What to do with the emotion we all feel stuck with, to acknowledge that White people will likely disappointingly, try to keep going about the day today in a “business as usual” manner. We need you to keep encouraging us to respect COVID and its potential fatality. Equally important is that we need you to encourage Black folks to take care of ourselves which means:

1. It's okay to cry. This is sad and heartbreaking. We have to honor our emotions.
2. Be prepared to persevere and keep fighting the good fight. Actively protest if you ...