“There is a fix. But in order to access it, we’re going to have to have some uncomfortable conversations.”
– Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, Analyst at Fox Sports 1.
If there ever was a time when the world found one loud, resonant and unanimous voice, it would be now. Across the world, the devastation that millions have experienced is finally heralding the much-needed antithesis; a re-awakening. I guess it’s something we’re all subconsciously aware of; the fact that the change that should happen must first come from within, and to effect that change, conversations must begin.
Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho is spearheading that conversation and the more uncomfortable it gets, the more healing it achieves. Nigerian-American Emmanuel started the much-talked about YouTube series two months ago titled “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man”, where he’s been sharing some home-truths about colourism,white supremacy, cultural appropriation, interracial relationships and so much more. He’s had in his “white room’, Matthew McConaughey, Carl Lentz, Chip & Joanna Gaines amongst a few others. In typically no-holds-barred discussions, they thrash out the most pressing issues surrounding racism, one hot episode after another. Unafraid, Acho takes on all the questions, large and small, insensitive and taboo, many white Americans are afraid to ask―yet which all Americans need the answers to, now more than ever. It’s interesting how this comes to affect us as black people in Africa, but in more ways than we think, it certainly does. The world is finally one huge melting pot where matters affecting us transcend age, color,race or creed.
With the same open-hearted generosity that has made his video series a phenomenon, Acho in collaboration with Oprah Winfrey is set to launch the series in a book! The must-read is scheduled for release on the 10th.of November and is already available for pre-order.