To the Editor: 



I grew up with a sister who was not white. She was adopted from another country; I was adopted from right here in Central Missouri. I never saw her skin color or differences until I was older and other people made me see it, in way of their teasing. We went to a predominantly white school and church, all of her and mine friends were white.


I remember my sister upset one day because while at work at a local grocery store someone said to her “Your kind are such good workers.” There are so many stories like this. I am offering this back story to give you an idea of why Black Lives Matter is so important to me.


Here are some of the common arguments I see from white people.


• Slavery: “I didn’t do anything to them, I never owned slaves.”


• White Privilege: “I don’t have any special treatment or privilege. I have earned everything I got.”


There are more arguments of course but I am choosing to stick to the most common underlying current AGAINST Black Lives Matter that I have experienced.


Here is what my sister has taught me (and quite honestly what everyone SHOULD have been taught in Kindergarten). 


IT ISN’T ABOUT YOU!


You have no idea what another person has lived through, what their life experiences have been, and how they have been shaped by hurt, trauma, happiness, sadness, etc. People of color are screaming out in agony for the whole world to hear trying to express their pain and anger for all the things they have experienced and the response is “I didn’t do it so….”


I have been in the unique situation to live through, see, and hear all the microaggressions and more that my sister has experienced, and I realize that not everyone has that experience. But before you write off an entire movement do some research. Read the books, watch the movies, HEAR someone’s story.


But even more importantly BE KIND! It costs nothing and makes you accept no blame to simply be kind and acknowledge that people of color are in pain and they are screaming out for you to hear them. You do not even have to agree with everything or even anything to be kind and to acknowledge others suffering.

To the people of color living in this community: I see you. I hear you. Black Lives Matter.



Christina Heilman