To All Of My Brothers and Sisters In The Global Community...

As someone who regularly brings an outside world perspective into the marching arts activity, I knew that I cannot stay silent on a serious issue that affects us all as human beings.

Seeing the video of George Floyd’s death was extremely disturbing and heartbreaking.

Before his death, it was disturbing and heartbreaking to hear about Ahmaud Arbery.

Before his death it was disturbing and heartbreaking to hear about Breonna Taylor.

Do we need to bring up the outrageous circumstances that led to the death of so many African Americans that happened before George, Ahmaud and Breonna?

As an Asian American, I’ve experienced my fair share of racism. With the Covid-19 Pandemic, I’ve experienced it as recently as last month. But the centuries of systematic and institutionalized racism that is directed towards African Americans (our brothers and sisters in humanity), has far deadlier consequences and IT NEEDS TO STOP!

For all of my criticism of the Marching Arts community, one of the things we absolutely got right and continue to get right is that we truly are a community that does not see race, religion or sexual orientation. Our community only sees drummers, trumpet players, flute players, guard members and instructors and I love that about our activity.

As such, we have a responsibility as members of the marching arts community to set an example and show members of the greater world community how we should and need to treat each other as human beings.

We also have a responsibility to speak up when we see injustices within the greater world community.

We absolutely have a responsibility to FIGHT racism in all of its forms wherever it exists.

If we don’t, we can’t ever hope to see any substantial change and we will all continue to suffer.

As a Social Media personalty and drummer, I hope to use my platform to bring attention to this matter so that we can continue to grow and evolve as a human race and I sincerely hope you will join me in that effort.

I’m optimistic and hopeful that one day soon, the human community will finally stop all of this ridiculous division, hate and racism. But until then, “all lives matter” will never be a true statement until #blacklivesmatter