To the woman who told the man from Africa to go back to his country,

My heart hurts for you...that you feel so insecure about your life that you feel the need to put down somebody else. I was walking into Kroger in Dallas and you had the nerve to yell at the security guard who happened to be from Africa. At first, I was taken aback because I couldn’t believe it was happening.

Let me remind you what you said,

“Sir, Sir, get off your a** and go back to your country and get a job there.”

You continued to tell him that until you pulled away.

Ma’am, my insides were turning and my mind racing but I wanted to show you what love looks like. I refuse to fight hate with hate. I could have yelled at you and told you to go back to your couch. I could have told you that you are not native to this land. I could have told you that you don’t deserve to live. But I didn't and I won't.

I, unlike you, will not speak ill of a person. I do not know what people are going through so I give them the benefit of the doubt. I also seek out the good in people and love them no matter what. This man that you spat on with words looked terrified as I walked up to him after this encounter. I forcefully stuck out my hand and he grabbed it and stood up to embrace me. He was overjoyed and could not believe that I would support him. The way he lit up seemed as if we were friends for years! I said to him, “You go ahead and sit there and do your job. Stay here and live, you are loved.”

I walked into the store full of emotions and I felt like I missed an opportunity to yell but I realized that I was not silent. My actions spoke.

**This is a constant struggle of mine that I am wrong if I do and wrong if I don’t because of many people’s opinions. I want to help and be compassionate but when I do it looks like “white saviorism” which is not my heart. If I stay silent many would accuse me of siding with the oppressor. I can’t win. My heart wants to love people well and stand up for people but not to lift myself up but to lift them up. Please understand that this is my heart while reading this. **

You see I should have hated you back but instead I lifted the man up. I exalted him and reminded him that he is a human and is worthy of respect and love. I didn't want to push you down because you are a human too, worthy of love. It was better for this man to be lifted up than for you to be pushed down. I refuse to fight hate with hate.

My God made all humans in his image and ALL are worthy of love and ALL are made with dignity.

As I left Kroger, He saw me and gave me the biggest smile and held out his fist for a fist bump and he said “thank you sister” and I replied, “you are welcome brother, keep going.”

In case you don’t understand, please don’t ever tell someone to go back to where they came from. They are allowed to be here and they are worthy of love and respect.

Loving ferociously,

AP