Shawn Dromgoole’s family had lived in the same neighborhood in Nashville for 54 years, but it still didn’t feel safe for him to walk there.
After Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot dead in his neighborhood in a Georgia suburb, it seemed like Black people weren’t safe anywhere. Ahmaud had merely been on a run in late February 2020 when three residents chased him down. Those three men have since been convicted of a federal hate crime and sentenced to jail.
“When Ahmaud Arbery got killed for running in his neighborhood, that could be me very easily in my neighborhood," Shawn said.
Why a 29-Year-Old Man Feared His Own Death
At only 29 years old, Shawn feared his own death. He was too afraid to take a walk in case, like Ahmaud, he wouldn’t return to his front door.
Shawn decided to share his feelings 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.”
In an incredibly brave move, Shawn then took to Nextdoor, an app that allows community members to communicate.
The app has previously featured racist content with residents speculating about “suspicious black men,” but Shawn wanted his community to understand how unsafe he felt among them.
“It was terrifying to me," he said. "I'm like, 'These people hate me in this neighborhood.’"
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Like many other Black Americans, Shawn has experienced racism where he lives. He has been stopped for “walking while black” before.
Gentrification has made matters worse with more white and wealthy people moving into previously predominately Black neighborhoods.
“It’s not a new reality,” he said.
How a Community Responded to a Man’s Confession
Despite his previous experiences, the reaction to Shawn’s Nextdoor post was promising.
150 people messaged Shawn, apologizing for making him feel like an outsider and applauding his honesty.
More than anything, the community wanted Shawn to be able to take a walk, so they rallied beside him. Shawn arranged for a group to meet in the parking lot of a local restaurant so they could all walk together.
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“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.”
Around 75 people showed up to walk with Shawn.
“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 !!!!”
How a Community Proved Change Is Possible
The walks didn’t end there: Shawn continued to host walks. “I just want to walk, not parade, not march," he said.
The support his community has shown him has allowed Shawn to believe that change was possible.
“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!"
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"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.”
Shawn confessed something scary to his neighbors: He was afraid of walking in his own neighborhood, past their very houses. His honesty allowed him to open up to his community, who then rallied behind him. Now he has a whole network of people supporting — and walking with — him.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.