Thomas Rhett, wife Lauren on dealing with racism as parents of black daughter

Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins spoke out Sunday in the wake of George Floyd’s death, taking a stand against racism while addressing their own experiences as the parents of a black daughter, 4-year-old Willa Gray. “As the father of a black daughter and also two white daughters- I have struggled with what to say …

Thomas Rhett and wife Lauren Akins spoke out Sunday in the wake of George Floyd’s death, taking a stand against racism while addressing their own experiences as the parents of a black daughter, 4-year-old Willa Gray.

“As the father of a black daughter and also two white daughters- I have struggled with what to say today,” the country singer posted to Instagram. “We have navigated forms of racism directly and while there is mostly overwhelming support and love for our family, sometimes there is just the opposite. Because of that fear, it can be a lot easier to choose silence, but today I’m choosing to speak.”

Rhett, who adopted Willa from Uganda in 2017 with his wife, added that he has “no clue what it feels like to be profiled by authorities, treated negatively or have my life threatened because of the color of my skin.”

“When I witnessed the horrific murder of George and think about the mistreatment of other black men and women in America, I am heartbroken and angry,” Rhett stated. “I get scared when I think about my daughters and what kind of world they will be growing up in and how my JOB as a father is to show them how to lead with love in the face of hate.”

Rhett said he wants his daughters — Willa, 2-year-old Ada and 5-month-old Lennon — “to know their worth and value as not only women but human beings.”

“I have witnessed my black band and crew members on the road struggle at times with feeling safe because of the color of their skin. This is unacceptable,” Rhett continued. “I don’t believe in hate. I believe in love. What happened to George was pure hate. We are all created by the same God.”

Rhett added that he’s not only praying for “a change in heart of those hearts who have been overcome by hatred and hardened,” he also yearns for “a deeper understanding for myself and awareness of the experience of mistreatment that those of another skin color go through.”

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A post shared by Lauren Akins (@laur_akins) on May 21, 2020 at 5:58pm PDT

In a separate Instagram post, Akins — who has been married to Rhett since 2012 — said she’s “been nervous to post anything in the past and even now because of how some people believe that I as a white mother am undeserving or incapable of raising a black daughter.”

“I believe that shaming comes from people who choose to see only my white skin and her brown skin and refuse to see our hearts and love for each other,” she wrote.

Though Akins experienced anxiety over fear of sharing her “heart on social media,” she wants daughter Willa to know she will forever stand up for her.

“I want her to be VERY sure that I am HER mother who stands up not only for her, but for every single person who shares her beautiful brown skin,” Atkins posted. “I want to be her mother who raises her to know what it means to have brown skin and to be proud of it. I want to be her mother who doesn’t listen to the shaming of skin colors but instead listens to the Spirit of God who knitted every skin color together in their mother’s womb for His glory.”