I wasn’t expecting to experience what happened on this week. I have a very inquisitive 3-year-old son who, surprisingly, is very interested in what is going on in the world. He doesn’t want to miss out on anything. We were reviewing who Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was and how the day we celebrate his life and legacy is coming up. He asked what happened to him and I shared that he was assassinated. Of course, he then wanted to know what assassinated meant. After a series of more questions about how the assassination happened, who did it and why…he compelled me to pray for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I hesitantly told him there was no need to pray for him because he was already dead. He continued to insist, so I obliged. As the words began to escape his heart, it certainly landed on mine. He began to pray for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the man who assassinated him. He also began to pray for the men who attacked the Capitol and that they would stop shooting and hurting people. He prayed they would love like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And he sealed his prayer by asking God to let all people in the world love Him.
His prayer was earnest. His prayer was confident. He was not anxious, worried, or seemed distressed. He honestly prayed for a better world with no doubt God couldn’t make it happen.
With tears in my eyes, I picked him up, hugged him, and cried. Through my tears, I began to grieve having a black son in this country and in this world. I felt inadequate in protecting him from the evil he prayed so earnestly against. I also felt hope. I also felt encouraged. And best of all, I was empowered by my 3-year-old to not only continue to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr….but continue the fight to make his DREAM come true. It was evident, my 3-year-old did not consider it a dream, but prayed it into existence.
My hope is that we all intentionally celebrate unity in the midst of division, peace in the midst of chaos, and hope in the midst of uncertainty.
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
Dr. TC
Dr. Tia Crooms 
And we are blessed to have this child. I pray for a better world and I grieve for what he will experience as a black man in America. Thanks for sharing.
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Your story has made me sob. What a special child who has special parents. As a white woman with white children, I can only imagine what it is like to be a Black person, and especially to be the parent of Black children. My brother’s and SIL’s son is Black and I worry about him constantly. My heart breaks for what my race, even many of my ancestors, have done to Black people. I’m so very, very sorry! I have, and will continue to stand up for Black people and do whatever I can to bring about the change that MUST come for your precious son and all Black people because you deserve nothing less! If you, or anyone reading this, have suggestions on how I can help, please, I beg you to let me know! Change cannot take place if white people don’t help, but we often don’t really know how. Please help educate me and I promise that I will pass on what I learn. My prayers are with you all!
#whitepeopleforBlackpeople
#21stcenturycivilrightsmovement
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Thank you for sharing your experience of my reality. My heart accepts your apology for the reality of systemic racism. I sincerely think using your voice as a white woman of the unfairness and injustice of our local and global society towards people of color is a powerful stand to help in the fight. Those that see injustice and say nothing indeed demonstrate agreement by their silence. Use your voice dear sister. Your voice alongside mine WILL make an impact in our local community and beyond. In this I am confident. Abundant blessings, ❤️ Dr. TC
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