I am not a black man.

I was at the Mike Brown vigil in Ottawa last night. There has been some controversy around the event as organizers had asked non-black people to stick to the edge of the crowd rather than up front where the cameras & megaphone were. This made complete sense. The event was very informal. Black people took turns at the mic sharing their own experiences with racism. I was there because I wanted to hear their stories and express solidarity with their struggles. Those brave people who bared their souls in the cold last night, they deserved a place up front. They deserved a chance to pass the mic from one hand to the next and be heard. Anyone who think that is discrimination needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror.