I Wrote This For You

When I was 13, I took a weekend road trip with my travel basketball team. ⁣

I was the only white person on the team. ⁣

We ate together, played together, crashed 4 to a hotel room together. ⁣

I did that, most weekends, for the next 6 years. ⁣

My teammates became my second family. ⁣

I remember a kid in school asking me what it was like to spend weekends with people of a different race.⁣

That’s when I first realized:⁣

He didn’t get it. ⁣⁣

He didn’t get how LUCKY I was. ⁣

My teammates, all of them black, were amazing human beings. ⁣

They taught me so much.⁣

We were not “different races”. ⁣

I wasn’t the white player and they weren’t the black players. ⁣

We were all just players on the same team. ⁣

Just like in life. ⁣

All people. ⁣

Of all colors. ⁣

⁣Are all just players... on the same team. ⁣

⁣The team is called HUMAN. ⁣

⁣And we protect our teammates, support our teammates, look out for our teammates. ⁣

I don’t know how to solve this problem.⁣

But I know all change starts within, not without. ⁣

⁣So if I have any influence with you whatsoever. ⁣

⁣If you look up to me or model me at all. ⁣⁣

Please know. ⁣

I believe skin color is a distraction. ⁣

I believe it’s a mirage. ⁣

Once you see past it, you see we’re all the same.⁣

Flesh. Blood. Heart. Bones. HUMAN. ⁣

“Race” is a label. ⁣

Labels are fables. ⁣

Choose love. ⁣

Choose acceptance. ⁣

Choose empathy. ⁣

Choose to lead the change by BEING THE CHANGE. ⁣

I love you. ⁣

-JC⁣