I was raising my own worst nightmare. Smack dab in the middle of my brood of five kids, was a charismatic, sassy, leggy, blonde, dance-y, athletic girl oozing confidence...
It's been 14 years since smash Blockbuster "The Blind Side" made its debut in theaters. This week, former NFL star Michael Oher, whose real life story the movie is based on says it's all a lie.
Millions around the world saw the victorious photo of Spain's 29-year-old soccer star, Olga Carmona, celebrating with her jersey in her teeth after she scored the winning (and only!) goal in the World Cup Finals against Australia Sunday. She didn't know at the time that her own father had passed away during the winning match.
"I volunteer my own time as a youth mentor. I love to visit schools and talk to the kids. I walk up and down these neighborhoods. I live in my community. I CARE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY. I am ME."
Even now, as some people read these words, their quills will rise and the claws will come out. They will buck up defensively and begin justifying their behavior without even trying to absorb the rest of my thoughts.
"I know that you said you didn’t watch the whole video as you don’t want this to feel normal, but don’t withhold from feeling it ALL," replied Jamie Grace. "This IS normal to us."
I watch this video and I get angry and I get sad and I clench my teeth and I hold back my tears and I ask, “Why!?” I say this not only as a police officer, but as a white man in America.