Shawn Dromgoole shares the plight of many black people in this country. Despite living in a neighborhood his entire life, he couldn't feel certain that he was safe in his own community. After the deaths of George Floyd and every other black person senselessly killed throughout this country, that feeling is amplified.
Shawn shared his feelings on the matter in a 2020 post on Facebook and, later, in a post on Nextdoor, an app that connects members of communities. In his post, he detailed that despite the fact his family has lived in the same home for over 50 years, he couldn't take the chance that a neighbor would fail to recognize him as a resident and instead call the police. He shared that a walk around his own block could be so dangerous that there were no guarantees he'd come home to his family.
For many people in Nashville, Shawn's words were heartbreaking. It was enough to move members of his community to physically come out and show their support for the pained young man.
Shawn Dromgoole's family has lived in the same home in Nashville for 54 years. The 29-year-old grew up there, but that doesn't always mean he feels at home. Those feelings came to a head for Shawn after the death of George Floyd.
Shawn realized he didn't feel safe in his community. He had fears of what would happen to him if one of his white neighbors didn't recognize him and called the police. In an incredibly brave move, he decided to share those feelings with his community.
Shawn decided to share "what was on my heart," Today reports. He first shared his message on Facebook.
"Yesterday I wanted to walk around my neighborhood but the fear of not returning home to my family alive kept me on my front porch," he wrote.
"Today I wanted to walk again and I could not make it off the porch. Then I called my mother Lynetra Lynne Dunn and she said she would walk with me. I still kept my ID on me and my phone in my hand but I walked. #Icantbreath #icantsleep #icantwalk."
Shawn also shared his message on the Nextdoor app, although he was hesitant to do so. He acknowledged that the app, which brings members of a community together based on neighborhoods, has featured racist content. Members of the community would speculate about "suspicious black men."
"It was terrifying to me," he said. "I'm like, 'These people hate me in this neighborhood.'"
He went on to explain that gentrification has only made matters worse as far as white residents othering black residents. Shawn says that he's been stopped for "walking while black."
"It's not a new reality," he said.
Shawn was completely surprised by the reaction by community members on Nextdoor. He received messages from 150 people nearby. Many apologized for the community making him feel that way. They also applauded his honesty.
People wanted to walk with Shawn, and he was happy to do so. He arranged for the group to meet in the parking lot of a local restaurant.
"It was such an amazing feeling," he said. "My neighbors were behind me, and they had my back. That was my reaction. I'm still dumbfounded by all the support."
About 75 people in total showed up to walk with Shawn, which is a pretty good turnout for an impromptu gathering.
"I was afraid to walk by myself in my childhood neighborhood, because I was afraid I wouldn't live to see another day," he shared on Instagram. "When I shared this fear with my neighbors they said we will walk with you. This is only the beginning !!!!"
Shawn will be hosting another group walk in the neighborhood this Thursday.
"I just want to walk, not parade, not march," Shawn explains.
"I remember just walking as a kid. In a world that's so complicated with technology and things, sometimes you just need to walk off your front porch and say hey to your neighbor."
Shawn has been sure to point out to people that while he's the one who shared these feelings, they are not exclusive to him by any means. "When Ahmaud Arbery got killed for running in his neighborhood, that could be me very easily in my neighborhood," he said.
"But now I feel safe on my street. It feels completely different."
Shawn thanked the community for its support. "Thank you for walking with me and making me feel human and heard. Your support at this time has meant the world to me," he wrote.
"However, you haven't just impacted me, you have also impacted others who look like me, talk like me, and feel like me. You've impacted the world! I didn't do any of this to be seen. I didn't do anything for any reason. I just wanted to take a walk in my neighborhood … but if it is going to change the way people see people like me then I want to do that."
