Country star Thomas Rhett, whose four-year-old daughter Willa is from Uganda, shared an emotional message about racism on Sunday.
“As the father of a black daughter and also two white daughters, I have struggled with what to say today,” the singer wrote on Instagram. “We have navigated forms of racism directly and while there is mostly overwhelming support and love for our family, sometimes there is just the opposite. Because of that fear, it can be a lot easier to choose silence, but today I’m choosing to speak.”
Rhett said he does not know how it feels to be profiled or threatened by police because of the colour of his skin and was “heartbroken and angry” when he saw the video of George Floyd crying out from under the knee of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
“I don’t believe in hate. I believe in love,” said Rhett. “What happened to George was pure hate.
“So if there is any question on where I stand let me be clear – I stand with you, I stand with George and his family and all those who have faced racism. I stand with my wife and my daughters. We will be fighting this fight for the rest of our lives.”
He added: “Rest In Peace, George. We are not letting this go.”
MORE: Music Stars Speak Out About George Floyd's Death, Racism
Similar sentiments to Rhett’s were expressed by country duo Dan + Shay, who came out of their social media hiatus this past weekend.
“When the new story began to break, so did our hearts,” read a message Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney shared. “In fact, they shattered. For the family of George Floyd, and for the black community as a whole.”
The pair continued: “This is not the first time this has happened, but by God, please let it be the last.”
Dan + Shay slammed racism and discrimination and urged people to come together.
“Politics and all other bulls**t aside, we all have a giant responsibility to eliminate this issue, which has plagued our country for far too long,” they wrote. “We must educate our children, and install values of love and equality.
“We are all born innocent, and racism is something that is learned.”
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