Lauren Stephenson, LPGA player
I’m sure for anyone who saw the video or read anything about (George Floyd’s death), it’s so mind-blowing that another human could do that to someone. For me personally, I feel like it has been eye-opening just from the fact that I’ve been able to have a lot of conversations with my friends and family, and I’ve honestly been trying to learn as much as I can by watching videos and doing research.
… I didn’t grow up in a racist family, but I’m very aware that friends and maybe even some of my distant family, I’m not too sure, do have some racist values or tendencies. We talked about how it’s important to step in and be able to talk to our friends and family. Even if you’re not willing to voice your opinion out to the world on your social media, or if you don’t have that platform, it’s just as important to step in a family member situation or friend and be that voice for other people.
We’ve all seen the backlash that like Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka and all of them got (for their social media posts) and it’s honestly sad being in the golf community, how terrible the response is when people are standing up for something that’s important and what’s right. For me, it’s obviously on a smaller scale. I don’t have all the followers and stuff like that, but I did get some rude comments or responses and lost some followers. I think that’s just a choice you have to make as an athlete and as someone who has a voice and a platform.
You have to decide whether you’re going to stand up for what’s right and be willing to take the criticism and hateful comments, or just not say anything at all. … I think people have just gotten to the point where enough’s enough, and they want to see a change. I’m sure 30 years from now our kids and our grandkids will read about this in history books, and hopefully, it will be what really makes a difference.