Coming Home

by Brittney Griner

When you’re tall it’s assumed you’re fearless, and when you’re Black, you’re thought to be thick-skinned, but my size and color were no more insulating than my thin hoodie in the cold. I was as terrified as I was frozen.

Mom has two nicknames for me: Britt and Ladybug. The second clearly doesn’t fit. With a wingspan of seven-four, I’m a damn giraffe, not some cute little bug.

My kneeling was a sign of just how much I love our country. My ancestors helped build this nation. My father spent his career defending it. I take pride in being American, especially after being imprisoned in a country where public dissent can get you killed. Here, freedom of speech is our right. Exercising that right makes me more of an American, not less. Sit. Stand. Kneel. Protest. The beauty of our homeland is that we have a choice.