Solari: We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for progress

With the current state of race relations in the United States reaching a boiling point, former A&M linebacker and Houston native Steve Solari joined TexAgs Radio to offer his opinion on the murder of George Floyd and how we enact change in this country.

Key notes from Steve Solarin interview

• I think change is crucial and starts with conversations. The conversations will be uncomfortable, but we all have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable for progress to be made.
   
• I couldn’t agree more with Hugh McElroy and his thoughts about blind spots. You know it’s there, but as humans, we normalize things like that and aren’t willing to open our eyes and see it. Racism is one of those blind spots.
   
• We have to have those conversations to bridge those gaps. We have to be open-minded to other people who don’t look like you or people that aren’t in your tribe. Being open will create that progress.
   
• My mom called me and told me to turn on the TV, that’s how I found out about the murder of George Floyd. She didn’t prepare me for anything I was about to see. I see officers with his knee on George Floyd’s neck. It was inhumane. When I heard him cry out to his mother, I knew his mother was dead. That was a different kind of cry. I saw some fluid on the ground and could tell his body was shutting down. It’s hurtful to watch that because when I see it, I see my face or my son’s face. There are so many emotions that come, and one of them is anger. Something must be done about it.
   
• There has been progress. The Rodney King deal was a weird one because it was on video. It looked like seven or eight officers beating the guy. Four guys ended up being brought up on charges, but none were convicted. It led to a lot of distrust among our judicial system. I remember watching it with teammates - white and black - and everyone was disgusted with it.
   
• I was very proud of Houston. There were 60,000+ out there. The mayor and the police chief came out. That’s what leaders do; They come out and talk with the people and show empathy.
   
• This is a worldwide deal, not just Houston or the United States. People have been protesting all over the world, and most of it has been peaceful. We need to point out those rioting and looting and get rid of them, just as the police need to get rid of their corrupt officers.
   
• Have conversations with your friends. Reach out and check on them. We need everyone for change to be made. White, brown, and black, we need everyone. Eventually, this will arrive on everybody’s doorstep. We don’t want anyone to get that hateful phone call. This is not a Republican or a Democrat thing. America is the greatest country in the world, but imagine how much greater it could be if everyone was involved in the system. Let’s protest. Let’s make a change. Check on your brothers and sister. Let’s do this together. People of color cannot do this alone.
   
• It is disheartening for me to have these conversations with my son that my dad had with me in the 80s, and his father had with him in the 60s. Who knows how long it’s been going on. If we can nip racism in the bud, it can change America. We can start rewriting America right now.