06/07/2020
Please take a moment to click on the link to read a Mothers concern. The mother of former Boys and Girls Club athlete, Christian Bryant, opens up about her anxiety & fear for her son.
We pray everyday for the parents of our young men, and the anxiety they face for their safety. These times are difficult and require us to acknowledge situations and moments that are unsettling. Our goal is to raise boys to men, engage in talks, and have conversations that are bigger than sports.
Sadly, there are required conversations that must take place. These discussion are not because we want any of our young men to feel like victims. Truthfully, it is because we want every young man to arrive back home safe and sound, able to continue living out the dream they have, and eventually raise their own families. The inherent desire is to develop strong leaders that will uplift the fabric of their community. Sad to say, no matter how hard you may try, there is an unspoken anxiety that creeps up everytime a son leaves the doorstep.
Read the article below published and written by former Bowie Bulldog Athlete Christian Bryant's mother, Stephanie Gaines-Bryant, on the fear she experiences when her son leaves the house. Christian's brother Rickey graduated from the Naval Academy, and serves as a role model to his young brother. Their father, also served honorably in the U.S. Navy, and Christian looks to carry on the family tradition. It is unfortunate that all of that can be wiped away, for as Christian mother says in the article "All they may see is the same thing noticed regarding George Floyd, a large black man, as Christian now stands at 6'0, 230 lbs"
Anyone that knows Christian knows that he is one of the nicest, and most respectable young men you could meet. This former Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate, and highly decorated wrestling star and musician. Wants to just honor and make his parents proud. Some day, we will arrive at a day where the character of a person, shines greater than the color of a person. Until that day, mothers & fathers, will continue to experience an anxiety that is real, and ever present. This article should highlight why we must make this world a better place for those who will come after us.
https://wtop.com/local/2020/06/column-wtop-anchor-black-mom-shares-fears-for-her-son/