Randy Orton explains how he had a change of heart on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. The Viper explained what really changed for him.
Randy Orton is a very vocal person. He is known to speak his heart regardless of how many people he ends up crossing. That is exactly what happened back in 2016 when he responded to NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police brutality on black people by saying: “Americans are dying. Pigment of skin doesn’t matter. American people matter.”
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Orton was convinced at the time that he was right. In recent months however, with police brutality on black people being the focus once again, the Viper had a completely different opinion. He responded with grace to a follower who shared the opinion Orton once himself had.
So, what changed?
Randy Orton explains how he had a change of heart on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement
“It took me a little time, but what I had to do was realize, Kaepernick, he wasn’t sh****** on the flag… He was taking a stand against police brutality’ Orton told CBSSports.com. “As a white guy, I don’t see it. But then I started listening to my black brothers and sisters, especially the ones I’ve known for years and some for more than a decade… hearing first-hand accounts of interactions with cops that took advantage of the situation and the power they had because [of]… the color of someone’s skin. That’s when the lightbulb went off.”
“I’m embarrassed to say it, but it took me a little while but I get it. What I said on Twitter, I stand behind. If anyone doesn’t agree with me, I think they need to do more digging.”
Orton admitted that a change of heart came about by putting himself in the shoes of his fellow African American colleagues.
“Go look at Big E’s Twitter from a week ago, go look at Xavier Woods’ Twitter, go look at things Kofi [Kingston] said, that Mark Henry said, that Shelton [Benjamin] said, that R-Truth said. If you read what they’re saying and try to put yourself in their shoes for even just a minute, you’re going to see right now that it’s not fair.”
“I think white people, like me, especially with a platform, saying that? Sitting on your laurels and not saying anything? I don’t think that’s helping anything. You need to get out there and get in this conversation. You need to insert yourself. That is what I was trying to do.”
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