Disclaimer: This article is not a weapon to defend whether the killings of Philando and Alton were right or wrong.

On July 5th, I watched a video of Baton Rouge police killing Alton Sterling.The video had 63 likes, 20 comments and a few shares. The next morning I woke up to the video being viewed by millions and being shared on national news outlets. And then it started; people begin to take sides, form violent protests and create "I know I am right" attitudes. But I saw something beyond the surface.

As I learned that Alton Sterling had children, whom he was there for, my heart broke. Growing up, I longed to have my father with me. After awhile, I learned not having a father in the home was sort of a "norm" for the black community. But it seems year after year, more and more black fathers begin to play a big role in their children lives. Whether the shooting was right or wrong, a father was lost. I'm sure some would want to argue Alton wasn't a strong father figure because of his past, but take notice it was his past. His children got to watch their father overcome so much and do what he needed to support their family. That's a big deal and I celebrate Alton for doing so. To have a father snatched out of their lives, I'll never know what it feels like. But I can empathize with their tears to have one back.

Regarding Philando Castile's daughter, I can relate to on a higher level. As a little girl, I watched as a dad walked away from me, Daeanna watched as her dad was taken away from her. Again, some would argue what kind of father has marijuana in the car with his daughter? Honestly, I've seen some father's do/say way more explicit things in front of their children. Again, I am not justifying what is right nor wrong. But I will argue that Deanna is scarred for life. The opportunity to have her father there for life's milestones was viciously taken away. Like me, she will never have another father daughter dance nor she will ever get to giggle at her dad's threats to her first boyfriend. But unlike me, she will always know that her dad wanted to.

To children who lost dad's that wanted to be there,

Give thanks to Him, for being a father to the fatherless. Oh the joy you can cling to know your Heavenly Father is in love with you! The happiness you can have knowing he will always be near to you. The peace you can embrace knowing he can never be taken away from you.

Sincerely,

The Girl Who Needed a Father like Yours