My grandpa walked me down the aisle

He didn’t get to do that for my mom

He didn’t get to, because he didn’t go

Because my dad was Black.

People are capable of BETTER

Before my grandpa was the loving man I knew,

He was the dad

who didn’t go to his own daughter’s wedding

I’ve been angry this week

Angry and anxious

Tired of white supremacy

Tired of Christians who don’t find it to be a deal breaker

But then I remembered my grandpa

I remembered that people are capable of better

I remembered that grace is for people who don’t deserve it

My grandpa was one of the best men I knew

My dad didn’t have a dad

And my grandpa became a dad to him

He used to carry a copy of my first book everywhere & show it to strangers at coffee shops

He was the first in line to vote for Obama

He was so excited!

I’m glad my dad didn’t write off my grandparents

& I’m glad that my grandparents repented

I’m grateful for my biracial identity

Because today, as I sat disgusted

God reminded me that before my grandpa was the man I knew

He was the dad who didn’t go to his daughters wedding

My grandpa died 7 years ago

& in his memory, I’m committing,

to patience

to love

& to doing what my own father decided to do when faced with injustice..

He walked with them..

He walked down the dusty, long, broken road

of racial reconciliation