Serena Williams, profile picture
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Serena Williams, profile picture

Serena Williams

27 september 2016 om 19:13Facebook Creator for iOS

Today I asked my 18 year old nephew (to be clear he's black) to drive me to my meetings so I can work on my phone #safteyfirst. In the distance I saw cop on the side of the road. I quickly checked to see if he was obliging by the speed limit. Than I remembered that horrible video of the woman in the car when a cop shot her boyfriend. All of this went through my mind in a matter of seconds. I even regretted not driving myself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to my nephew. He's so innocent. So were all "the others"
I am a total believer that not "everyone" is bad It is just the ones that are ignorant, afraid, uneducated, and insensitive that is affecting millions and millions of lives.
Why did I have to think about this in 2016? Have we not gone through enough, opened so many doors, impacted billions of lives? But I realized we must stride on- for it's not how far we have come but how much further still we have to go.

I than wondered than have I spoken up? I had to take a look at me. What about my nephews? What if I have a son and what about my daughters?
As Dr. Martin Luther King said " There comes a time when silence is betrayal".

I
Won't
Be
Silent

Serena

David Ross, profile picture
David Ross
Serena, I live in Barbados. A few days ago, i saw our police passing a broken down car on a major traffic way. They stopped, helped the driver push the car out of the road, proceeded to check under the hood and directed traffic until a wrecker came. No shots were fired and they all looked like big bad dudes.
Geoff Mirelowitz, profile picture
Geoff Mirelowitz
Serena Williams thank you! You've just raised the bar for every well known athlete who can use their access to the media to help build a movement to stop this. Up until now, after Colin Kapernick, it has been younger athletes (high school and college as well as a few, mostly women, professionals) who have shown the way.

Let's hope many others -- of every skin color -- follow your example.
Saidi Fulukiya, profile picture
Saidi Fulukiya
It z so bad that african American mus suffer Cz of their skin,I mean they were born in the states hence that makes them there home.Here in african we ve got white people n they're african they live in peace n harmony.In my undestanding I think dis name african American itself z racist.whover lives in it,z an American ful stop regardless of the colour of their skin. Dis thing of killing innocent people Cz of their colour must stop.#Black lives matters
Heather Krein, profile picture
Heather Krein
To quote a movie....Coffey: I'm tired, boss. Tired of being on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to, coming from or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time... Can you understand?"
Brenda Howard, profile picture
Brenda Howard
Fight on sister. Believe in what you feel. You are a leader Serena. You are real. It is okay to speak your feelings, to be heard is good. Be strong as you always are. My sister. Love you.
Lizole Joka, profile picture
Lizole Joka
Now take those thoughts my sister and think of the guys that are impacted on a daily. brings me so much joy to hear a person of your magnitude speak the way you do because your words have so much reach, Stay blessed my sister the fight continues AMANDLA"power to the people"
Nora Pruitt Conlin, profile picture
Nora Pruitt Conlin
I am a white woman with two boys and I worry for them. I often think how much worse it would be if they were black. I agree with your concerns. I know several police officers, I work with them ( I am a forensic psychologist ) they are my friends and colleagues. I don't believe them to be racist. This problem...It's bigger than that. It's not just a racial divide. It's a lack of exposure, education and community. I appreciate your sharing your thoughts and fears in a productive way that brings us together, no name calling or protesting. Just a loving aunt who wants her nephew to be safe. Awesome.
Diane D. Miller, profile picture
Diane D. Miller
My son just earned his drivers license 2 weeks ago. I am tense from the moment he takes the keys until he comes back through the door. I don't want to be the hovering Mom... just afraid of what seems to be way too common happening to our black men. What's a Momma to do?

We got to fix this!
Johnpaul Onoja, profile picture
Johnpaul Onoja
BLACK LIVES MATTERS.. I might be a Nigerian but I have a younger brother and his family in the USA..so I stand with you Serena..
Kerry Louise Smith, profile picture
Kerry Louise Smith
Wow! I didn't realise as a white woman how my black friends really feel! I've been reading these comments and feel so sad that how white people and people of authority make you feel. Things need to change and fast! Obviously I've been quite ignorant towards my fellow black people (not purposely) but after reading this I certainly know now thank you serena x X
Tracy Timms, profile picture
Tracy Timms
We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into this battle of races, religion etc. It weakens the human race, then the divide and conquer win. We must stand all together, no matter what colour. any person, shot, injured, intimidated is someones, brother, son, husband, nephew, father, mother, daughter, niece, wife etc . xx
Naomi Wallace Baxter, profile picture
Naomi Wallace Baxter
We were on foot in the city and needed directions. My 21 year old son went to ask a police officer for directions. He came at him crazy..hands on his gun the whole time. I apologized to my son and could barely sleep that night. I told him we would go inside a cafe or restaurant next time if we needed directions.
Jason Dadz Morgan, profile picture
Jason Dadz Morgan
Thank you for your voice Serena. Thank you for your strength and courage. You are a leader and a real champion. Black World class global super star athletes should want to be like you. Talk up against unfair situations. You have my respect. #NotGonnaBeSilent. #Timeless
Aaron Lefebvre, profile picture
Aaron Lefebvre
Dr. King was a leader. Black Lives Matter and their ilk are not and have no leaders. Their message is corrupted by their execution which has done nothing but incite. Dr. King did not incite his supporters.

There are two sides to an equation that must be balanced. Equality is a two way street. The behavior and lack of leadership of Black Lives Matter is accomplishing nothing but making things worse as is the lack of proper training of police enforcement. But again, Dr. King did not incite violence. His leadership did not allow the murder of police officers in retaliation, did not allow rioting, did not allow salutes of black power. If that side of the equation continues to go the route it is going, things will get no better.
Bayou Billy, profile picture
Bayou Billy
This shows how backwards we are moving....
She sees a cop and immediately thinks the worst. Isn't that what we are trying to get away from??? You cannot look at any person and know whether they are good or bad so shame on you Serena Williams for moving away from what Martin Luther King was trying to resolve.
Mathew Fepuleai, profile picture
Mathew Fepuleai
Its really sad but we must all speak out and stand up. I'm not Amenican but I see it on the news here in NZ where I live. Its not just America its everwhere and its everyone's responsibilty to stamp out racism.
André Thomas, profile picture
André Thomas
Thank you for your voice. Even through all your success people have tried to diminish your accolades, but time, and the voice of the people know the truth. Many won't like what you've said, but we thank you. Your voice is needed, and others' silence is deafening.
Jonathan Wenzel, profile picture
Jonathan Wenzel
Everybody gets nervous when there's a cop behind you or you get pulled over. My reason is because I'm afraid that I've unwittingly committed some infraction and that I'm going to get an expensive traffic ticket probably coupled with a court date and the associated fees. That being said, I feel terrible for African Americans that they fear an outcome much worse. They don't have a police officer behind them and worry "oh no, here comes a freaking ticket". It tends to be a fear of their life or a passengers life being taken away for little to no reason when you look at the grand scheme of it. That to me is just awful and a completely horrible way to have to go about life. I always compared it to how I would feel if I were in Mexico or some south America countries where police are often times just there to do the paper work for the crimes that happen to be the ones they didn't commit themselves. I can't say that I know what it feels like personally but I feel like I can imagine that type of train of thought and how scary it really must be for you. I'm truly sorry that our country has let you down so badly. It'sstrange to say that I'm sorry your not scared of getting a traffic ticket but in reality, that should by all right be the extent of your worries in that situation. It's not just traffic tickets and things but it seems like a vast majority of any interaction with the police end up in either a truly sad event or at the very least your made to feel like your less valuable to this country that some might find me. I personally dont see it that way and for that I am sorry as well. It's not right, it's not fair or decent, it's nothing less than wrong. I don't mean to group all officers in that bracket as I'm sure there are many that feel the same way but I do believe that they need to go through a lot more training in order to handle things differently. I guess I don't know really what to say or to do other than apologize for those that are blind to the fact that you all are every bit as important to society and me as any other person and day that I truly do hope things change and make purposeful and positive progress.
Siddharth Saravanan, profile picture
Siddharth Saravanan
Am an Indian and only after the recent incident in US i came to know that this problem of racism is still existing .. . . . . And it is really sad to know that in a country like United States people are treated in this way. . . .Hope everything get allright soon. . . . AMEN.
Joel Grogg, profile picture
Joel Grogg
"" Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers"

- Martin Luther King Jr.
Hakim Jouk, profile picture
Hakim Jouk
Shooting innocent African Americans by simply ignoring the due process of law is wrong.The whole world must speak out against the inhuman acts of racism against African Americans specially from some racist white policemen and policewomen in the USA law enforcement agencies.In fact,if the government of the USA and the people of the USA don't stop such inhuman acts of racism,then,i believe the rest of the world who care about global moral human values should act and isolate the USA and STOP doing trade with them.It is time for the whole of Africa to call back their ambassadors to send a very powerful message to the USA that they can't continue to lecture the Rest of the world about the do call human and democracy while they are abusing human rights and the due process of law.What a shame to humanity on mother earth.
Catherine Lim, profile picture
Catherine Lim
So looking forward to watching you play here in Singapore Serena 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 your countrymen all need a passport each to travel outside of America and learn how people of all colours could live harmoniously together 🙏🏼
William Ross, profile picture
William Ross
It is commendable that the young lady who went from Compton to the best tennis player in the world has not been blinded by fortune or fame. It is a fight that African Americans did not pick. We have little choice but to stand against odds which remain stacked against us. We'll either win together or be fragment and undermined and be defeated. Thank you sister Serena, thank you for not forgetting. Take Good Care ofvYourself!
Rita Harris, profile picture
Rita Harris
Tracy, being colorblind is harmful. Please consider the facts. Black people have more fatal encounters with the police and police are less likely to serve time in these encounters. As white people we need to speak out and stand with our Black friends and families. We need to create safe spaces for them free of having to deal with our ignorance about racism. We need to listen to their experiences and believe them when they tell us what they go through. We need to challenge and confront our white friends that try to deny, no matter how innocently on their part, the problem of racism. It's our obligation as white people to do this until our Black friends and families no longer have to fear being killed in their car, waiting for the child to get off the school bus for no other reason than they were Black.
Ed Mohring, profile picture
Ed Mohring
No offense, but you do realize that over 50% of police killings are against whites and 28% are against blacks. Also, black population is a little over 12% yet they commit over 50% of homicides and ~70% of all crimes. These are just facts. Don't know what the solution is, maybe you do.
Denise Gray, profile picture
Denise Gray
I'm so disappointed that more people in authority have been silent or passive on such a serious problem that's affecting minorities...my brothers and sisters are being executed for obeying the law and command of gun toting gunmen that are referred to as cops, all cops aren't bad but there's a problem as the real ones needs to stand up!!!!! R.I.P my brothers and sisters...
Paula Lumpkin Presley, profile picture
Paula Lumpkin Presley
I can't imagine!! In 1978, in a very white Detroit suburb, a cross was burned on our lawn because a black young man, the youth leader in our white church, was living with us. He moved the next day. I said that was crazy to let that incident cause him to move. He said, A burning cross doesn't mean the same thing to a white person as it does to a black person!! Even trying to understand racism, it was clear that I didn't understand how it played out for a black person. Oh, sure, we got hostile looks in stores and such, but tried to ignore them. The burning cross was something different.
Hope Walker, profile picture
Hope Walker
African Americans have come along way since the days of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but however I do wonder whether the election of President Obama as President of the United States has opened up racial hatred in America in that how dare someone like him have the audacity to run for office. Not only run for office but run for office and win. To be truly honest I feel that since the election of Barrack Obama as President of the United States there has been more racial discourse in the United States that I can remember . Yes there are always the odd incidents but not like this. It seems to me like for those who are still racist towards blacks still holds " yes we have nothing against the black man but we just like them in their place pickin cotton and shinnin shoes." God forbid that a black man holds the highest office in the world as President of the United States. The struggle is very real for the Black Man and unless you are black you will never understand.
Aodhan Anntoin Drain, profile picture
Aodhan Anntoin Drain
As a white Canadian male, I had no idea about how bad things were elsewhere until I started following you and your sister's careers. I was mortified at the garbage slung your way time and time again, but what really impresses me about you and Venus is how you handle yourselves.

When I moved to Japan 10 years ago, I became the very visible minority and was (and still am) treated daily with gawks, stares, tsks, and whispers, and while I'm very frustrated at times (like when I speak Japanese and the native Japanese replies that they don't know English...), I do my best to keep calm because it's not a really big issue.

You are 100% right. The situation in America is a big issue, it always has been, and many of us white North Americans have been ignorant until the age of mobile phones started recording these atrocities. You shouldn't be silent and neither should those of us with any sound moral compass.
Derrick R Gregory, profile picture
Derrick R Gregory
if you or not a black male in this country, how can you relate to this on a personal basis because more than likely this never happened to you. I am a professional black male and I have many stories and experiences. This just didn't start today, this has been going on for a long time. When you have a person that wants to promote racial profiling, they feels that is OK, it's not OK and it's not our imagination either. You tell me if you been pulled over by a white cop for no reason, or followed in the store because you're black and the people that worked there thought that you were trying to steal the entire store. Don't minimize these concerns when black people bring them to ones attention. If you haven't walked the walk, then, it's best to keep quiet.
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