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Derek Mason shares his thoughts on George Floyd’s death, ensuing protests in lengthy, powerful Twitter thread
By Adam Spencer
Published:
As the only black head football coach in the SEC, Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason has a unique and powerful voice within the conference.
On Saturday morning, he took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests nationwide.
As you can see below, Mason shares his compassion for the anger of black people everywhere and calls on everyone, regardless of race, to be a part of the change:
I can only speak to my thoughts, feelings and emotions as another restless night gave way to my thoughts and prayers for the Floyd family.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
The video footage we continue to see is hard to turn off in your mind and has left me both angry and alarmed by what has become an all to familiar issue in our country.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
Imagine being the parent of a child and needing to explain to your son why it is important to listen to the rules of engagement in the world outside of your home. Then, you pray with all the prayer strength you have, everyday, for your child to make it home safely.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
Only to find that following the rules can sometimes not be enough to keep yourself alive. It’s a confusing dilemma to black men, which breeds anger and mistrust because the rules to this game keep changing.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
Empathy takes no talent, just the free will act of compassion.
You may not be capable of walking in someone else’s shoes, so don’t. Listen to the issue and walk alongside them to get it right.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
If anything is truly going to change, then we all must stand together peacefully to make sure that we stop trying to say who is at fault and find a way to get it right.
The cost of getting it wrong has become increasingly too expensive.
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
I’m calling on every level of my profession to model leadership in this time of crisis?? #RTI #ANCHORDOWN
— Derek Mason (@CoachDerekMason) May 30, 2020
Like many across the country, Mason is clearly frustrated with the current state of affairs. Kudos to him for sharing his thoughts and using his platform to get his powerful message across.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
