A Chat with Sara Hood About Recent Events

As you may have noticed, I decided to stop publishing content to the site for a few weeks. Not because of the lack of sports currently airing on television or even the global pandemic. It was the murder of George Floyd we all witnessed together on film just a few weeks ago. A moment that forced this country to decide what it wanted to stand for. Did we want to keep living in a world that wasn’t equal for all? A world where darker-skinned people were targeted and brutalized by people sworn to protect them?

I knew it wasn’t my place to talk about what’s going on in this country. This is why I reached out to the incredible Sara Hood. Sara is a fitness expert, blogger, and entrepreneur. She is also a Black woman, married to a Black man with two Black sons living in America. Sara is the wife of free-agent defensive tackle Ziggy Hood. She understands the fear and pain so many Americans are feeling.

How are you? How is your family?

We are ok. Some days are better than others, and tough and certainly emotional rollercoaster. As a Black woman with a Black husband (who’s 6’4” 300lbs mind you) raising two Black sons, one being non verbal and autistic my level of stress, and fear is high.
What’s interesting is those are feelings I have constantly. They don’t ever go away, and everything has me on high alert these days. We had to have conversations about race with the boys at 5 years old because a child called them a name. There’s no hiding the race conversions from our children because they need to be empowered. However, some of the deeper conversations I would’ve preferred to have with them when they were a little older couldn’t wait. They had to happen now.
That made me sad, but I couldn’t pretend and shield them from a society that truly does not see them as equal. It’s hard to determine when the boys will go from cute to a threat by society’s standards. The more aware they are of certain situations the more empowered they will feel when they know how to defend themselves, each other, or someone else.

You are the mother of two Black sons. What do you say to them?

I think that’s been the most difficult part. How much do we tell them? How much can they comprehend? I think because we started having race conversation so young we just expanded on the conversation based on their comprehension. We talked about color. We spoke about how some people may not like them because of the color of their skin.
Of course, Jeremiah had questions and we answered those questions for him. Is there fear? Of course. As an adult its hard to comprehend racism, bigotry, ignorance so having to explain it to a child is rough. A man was killed begging for his life. Begging for his mama…who was deceased. He was murdered by the very people who are supposed to protect and serve.
It’s a tough discussion to have as a mother when all I want to do is bubble wrap them because I don’t want anyone hurting them, but I can’t! The most difficult painful part of the conversation was when Jeremiah asked me “what about Josiah?” When he did that I broke down in tears! Even he understood the ramifications. He’s nonverbal so his thoughts were “How is Josiah going to be able to protect himself? How difficult it would be for his brother to be safe if the world already deemed him a threat based on the color of his skin. When he’s scared and he doesn’t “comply” because HE CAN’T…then what. There are so many layers to that element alone that I could curl up in a corner and just cry all week. BUT I HAVE TO BE STRONG!

Seeing the massive protests that feature people of all colors coming together, how does that make you feel? Are you more hopeful for the future? Do you believe real lasting change will occur?

I’m definitely hopeful due to the powerful shift we’re experiencing now in culture! We’re at a tipping point where social media and the digital revolution culture make it impossible to not know what’s going on, or see what’s wrong. We are becoming aware at such a rapid and heightened level of the injustices Blacks in this country have endured for too long, and are still oppressed by to this day. This new digital ecosystem enables more people to “plot, plan strategize, organize and mobilize.” That’s what movements are all about – mass disruptive action, which is taking place now. Such movements galvanize people in coming together to be at their fullest power and potential. This type of unity behind one cause creates change – and I’m hopeful this too is occurring now.

What do you want to say to people who still don’t understand all lives can’t matter until Black lives matter?

#BlackLivesMatter is not just a political issue. Neither is it a “black vs white” “me against you” issue. It is a human rights issue. As Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Whatever affects one directly affects all directly. The COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, China, and became a pandemic that spread all across the world. Racism is even more catastrophic to the human race, and requires us all to work towards a cure to eradicate it. That’s why we have to work together to combat systematic racism – because it truly affects us all.

What do you say to white people who absolutely support the Black Lives Matter movement, but are unsure how to show that support?

Do your research! Understand Black history and the wrongdoings that occurred throughout American and World History so that you can change any flawed perspectives that have been reinforced with decades of conscious and subconscious bias. Also, speak out and use your platforms to claim and promote being Anti-Racist.
When unjust race triggered tragedies occur to black men, women, and children – ask yourself “What would you do if that happened to your child, wife or husband, brother or sister?” Then mobilize yourself to take action in that very same way!

Any black-owned businesses you want to shout out?

Yes! I just did a blog highlighting “35 Amazing Black Women Influencers & Brands You Need To Know.” Those with businesses include Hanifa (fashion), The Mind of Kye (fashion), Meow and Barks Boutique (fashion), MBW Swimwear (fashion), The Lip Bar (beauty), Danessa Myricks Beauty (beauty), Prime Beauty Cosmetics (beauty), Mented Cosmetics (beauty), Chloe and Chad (skincare), Hyper Skin (skincare), Inua Skincare (skincare), Mary Louise Cosmetics (skincare), and Jones & Rose (skincare), The Critical Thinki n g Child (education), 5:30 Scholars (education) and Polished Pebbles (mentoring for girls)…to name a few.