Russell Rhodes Blog

What did you do?

black lives matter

It is a strange time in America. A difficult time. A time when we are re-examining our values.

The death of George Floyd and has made us realize that the justice system in this country is not equal.

Protests are leading to change—permanent change, I think. This time, we can’t go back to the old ways of doing things.

I have been very impressed watching people put their hearts into this movement. And their money, too.

Michael Jordan and Nike’s Jordan Brand are pledging $100 million to racial equality, social justice and greater access to education.

Many others are doing it as well. One of the more touching gestures I have seen is from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. CNBC reports that Ohanian resigned from his company’s board and urged the company to replace him with a black person.

Ohanian, who is married to tennis star Serena Williams, also said he would use the future gains from his Reddit stock to serve the black community, and would donate $1 million to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.

In a blog post on his eponymous blog, Ohanian said, “I’m writing this as a father who needs to be able to answer to his black daughter when she asks: What did you do?” He is also donating $1 million to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.

For its part, Reddit says it will honor the request and fill Ohanian’s seat with a black candidate.

This is where we are in 2020.  It’s a time of change. We have been here before, but this time, it seems to be different. Americans of all races are now able to look at racial injustice in this country—and they are ready for change.

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll taken during the aftermath of George Floyd’s death says that eight out of ten voters believe things are out of control in the United States. Out of control. In fact, this may be one of the only things Americans do agree on.

Voters in that same poll, by a 2-to-1 margin, say they are more concerned about the death of George Floyd than they are about the protests that followed. I think this is significant. It tells me people are ready for change, and more importantly, they’re willing to accept what it takes to get there.

To paraphrase Alexis Ohanian… someday, someone will ask me about this time in America. They will say, “What did you do?”… I hope I have a good answer.