In the wake of the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La., thousands of people have shared their reactions on social media, including Canadian-born rapper Drake who posted this heart-wrenching letter on Instagram.
“I am grateful to be able to call America my second home,” he begins. But the Alton Sterling shooting has left him feeling “disheartened, emotional, and truly scared.” Like many, Drake says that he doesn’t have all of the answers but he believes in a world that can do better by one another.
“I believe things can change for the better. Open and honest dialogue is the first step,” he writes. The letter is even more heartwrenching in light of the death of Philandro Castile, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in Minnesota.
Numerous reports indicate that Alton Sterling was one of more than 500 people fatally shot by the police in 2016 and that more than 120 of these individuals were black. Drake is one of many celebrities, including Amy Schumer, Jesse Williams and Zendaya, who have spoken out since the shooting. Hopefully, as Drake says, this open and honest dialogue will make a difference.
