This is the first in a year-long series titled "Spartan Stories" where members of the UNC Greensboro athletics staff and student-athletes share their unfiltered thoughts about how racial injustice has impacted them, offer solutions, and provide education through their experiences. These Spartan Stories are one of a number of initiatives in the UNCG Athletics social justice programming and education series.
 
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- I am just so tired. 
 
I feel like this is a consensus first statement. However, when you ask a Black person how they feel, the response is tired. 
 
See, what isn't innately understood is built within our DNA. It's the story of our ancestors who have worked tirelessly while being mercilessly beaten, battered, murdered, and enslaved. Yet, through all the pain, we have thrived, loved, created, and empowered others.  I know just writing these adjectives makes me tired, but we still rise. 
 
I know I rise for my family, for the stories I hear from my mother, my father, my aunts and uncles.  I remember the first time my Aunt Tina told me about how she participated in the lunch counter sit-ins in Charlotte. 
 
The pride to know that her black was the "baddest", if she was scared about being arrested or worst it didn't come through her story, she buried that fear deep down. All she spoke about was the urgency for change, the urgency for action, and the urgency for equality.  Her urgency translates into my pride. 
 
When my father told me about the Klu Klux Klan burning a cross in his childhood home's yard, my grandfather stared the Klan down with a shotgun in his hand and told them to Put It Out, and they did. My dad didn't mention fear, just pride because we must take our fears and push them down deep.
 
I'm tired.
 
Being Black, we are consistently surrounded by fear. 
 
Fear is walking into a room and realizing you're the only person of color. Our thoughts immediately drift to I hope no one says anything racist. Fear is seeing blue lights flash in the dark driving home and we know there's a very good chance I'm going to end up on the ground, behind bars, or dead all for driving while black.
 
We know these fears to be realities because we chant Philando Castile, Sandra Bland, Oscar Grant, Atatiana Jefferson, George Floyd and countless other names.  I do my best not to drive at night. 
 
My biggest fear is being out with my black brother, my white sister in law, and my perfect biracial nephews and people whispering or staring like they are a circus act. They are the best people I know. My nephews are nothing but the epitome of sweetness, happiness, and joy. 
 
To think someone would bring the ugliness of racism in their world simply because of the color of their skin is insane to me.  I will do what ever it takes to end racism for them. They don't deserve it. None of our beautiful black and brown babies do. I know this vow is one many of my ancestors have made and we still aren't there yet.
 
I may be tired, but when I look at all the black children in this country, I am proud to be Black. I am proud to fight for justice, equality, and black excellence.  What I hope is that my white brothers and sisters will help carry the load just a little bit.
 
After all, we've been carrying it for over 400 years.
 
A native of Charlotte, April Albritton is the Director of the Spartan Club. She earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Sports Science with a concentration in Community Youth Sports Development in 2005 from UNCG. Albritton also served as head manager for the UNCG men's basketball team. Albritton's athletics experience includes stints at Wake Forest, Davidson, University of Washington, College of Charleston and Stony Brook. She currently serves as a board member for Thomas Davis' Defending the Dream program.