America We Have a Problem – and it Just Found My 12-Year Old Daughter – Free Press of Jacksonville
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- January 8, 2026
A hard truth: Racism isn’t a relic of the past—it’s alive and being taught.
Over Thanksgiving break, my 12-year-old daughter was walking our dog in our Florida neighborhood when four teenage boys drove by and screamed a racial slur at her. She came home shaken. We reported it. Our neighbors rallied in support. But the fact remains: it’s 2025, and a Black child was called the N-word in broad daylight.
This isn’t just her “canon moment”—it’s ours. It reflects what we’re modeling in our homes, schools, and communities. Hate doesn’t disappear on its own; it’s learned and perpetuated.
As leaders, parents, and citizens, we have a responsibility:
- Stop normalizing bigotry.
- Stop dismissing racism as exaggeration or politics.
- Start teaching empathy, respect, and accountability.
My daughter knows her worth. She knows she is brilliant and beautiful. My hope is that America learns to see that too.
We can—and must—do better.