The Rock says...

The Rock says…

So last week I wrote up an entire post that I was pretty proud of.  I poured out my heart on racism and my upbringing and where I feel like I’m at today.

The smartest thing I did with this post was to share it with some friends who are people of colour (PoC) and ask their opinion before I put it online. 

Through talk with them, I came to understand that the piece I had written was not nearly as helpful as I thought it was.  The motivation behind it was cathartic and to make me feel better about myself and my past.

Nothing I had written would actually help to advance the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and nothing I had written would have had any impact on the systematic racism we see not only in the US and Canada but around the world. 

I want to thank my friends for making me take a look at myself and my motivations.  The events of the past couple of weeks have hit me differently than protests and rally’s in the past.  I’m seeing both sides more and I’m trying to understand. 

This past week I attended a rally to support our black brothers and sisters who were all made in the same image of the divine that I am.  I have never been to a protest or rally and had no idea what to expect.  It was calm and respectful and in the era of Covid-19, it was safe.  Without question, the most powerful moment came at the end during a moment of silence.  I saw every race and gender in my community, on one knee with one fist raised.  I screw up a lot as a parent and I understand the Covid fears, but having my entire family there for that moment is something I will always be proud of.

I’m not in a position to speak out about what the black community is going through right now or at any point in history.  This isn’t the time for me to talk about any changes in my heart over the years; that should be a given.  Right now is a difficult time for me as well.  It’s time for me to be uncomfortable.  

It’s time for me to hearken back to my WWE fandom of my youth.  It’s time to ‘know your role, and shut your mouth.’

It’s time for me to sit down and shut up and listen.  Listen to voices that are begging to be heard. 

Soon will be a time for action, a time to put my money or time where my mouth is.  Right now, however I will quote a sign that I saw last week; “I can not understand, but I will stand.”  I will try to learn what I can and listen to the voices that are speaking.  I will let them teach me as I have much to learn.