I had the privilege of taking a course on Race & Racism during my time at @HWSColleges.

As a white woman who comes from a predominately white community, went to a predominantly white college, & played on predominetley white basketball teams, (1/6)

...for the first time in my life, I was the minority in this class.

I took this class soon after the wrongful killing of Micheal Brown and subsequent Ferguson Riots.

My classmates who were POC were hurt. I could see it in their faces & hear it in their voices every class. (2/6)

And I listened. I listened to their anger, their fear, their personal stories.

Coupled with the curriculum in the class, I learned so much about what it means to be a POC in America. Things I never would have learned because I will never experience them personally. (3/6)

My point in sharing all of this is this.

I had to the provilege of being educated on many of the things we see being shared recently - white privilege, anti racism, unconscious bias, etc.

If you are white, take the time to educate yourself on what these things mean. (4/6)

What is happening right now is not a matter of politics, it’s a matter of human rights. Educating yourself should make you uncomfortable.

And most importantly, listen. Listen to what POC have to say. You can’t understand what they are going through, but you can be an ally. (5/6)

And while I’ve considered myself a white ally since this class, I know I need to be better.

So, to my friends, colleagues, and former, current & future student-athletes of color:

I hear you, I see you, & I stand with you in this fight. I promise to do my part. (6/6)