December 21, 2020 • bachelor insider
Dale Moss Opens Up About Embracing His Biracial Identity Amid Black Lives Matter Movement
During a candid Instagram Q&A, Dale Moss reflected back on the gravity of 2020 — particularly, this year’s reignited Black Lives Matter movement, which was a direct response to the murder of George Floyd and unceasing police brutality against people of color.
The former NFL player spoke about the topic in reply to the following fan inquiry: “Having biracial children myself, I’m curious how you navigate thru the BLM movement & how you embrace both sides of your family.”
Dale — who, after a whirlwind romance, got engaged to Clare Crawley on Season 16 of “The Bachelorette” — began by describing his experience as a biracial person growing up in South Dakota.
“Race is something that, this year, people are talking about more than ever. I’ve never shied away from the story of my family. I come from a biracial household. [I experienced] prejudice my entire life, especially being in a not very diverse [community],” he said.
“I think a lot of the things we see now, the conversations are starting and people are seeing that [racism] still [exists],” added the model and host.
“I talk with my dad and my uncles a lot about the history of our family and what they went through growing up and we talk about the civil rights movement,” he said of taking pride in his family history, before acknowledging today’s activism: “This is a new-age one, the things that have happened in this country with people speaking out more than ever.”
Dale also shared advice on how to have effective conversations with people who have trouble understanding the dangerous and oftentimes life-threatening impact of systemic racism.
“I always say that the best thing you can do to educate them is just make them feel like it’s a safe space to have conversations about race, about family, about all of these things,” he said. “And when you can do that and someone doesn’t feel like they’ll be attacked, then that’s when change really happens. And I’ve seen it firsthand.”
Dale expressed that he believes most people come from a good place, regardless of their political and social views.
“People don’t want to offend. People don’t want to say the wrong thing. But that’s how we get better,” he said, adding that it’s a “disservice” to make someone feel unwelcome because of their beliefs.
“You don’t have to agree with everyone, you don’t have to necessarily see their side of it fully,” he continued. “But I think when people feel safe and comfortable enough to actually speak on these things and share their personal experiences, they can also say when they f--ked up when they’ve said something that was probably out of line.”
Dale concluded by reminding his followers that although people “do make mistakes,” reform is possible. “That’s the biggest thing.”
Dale’s remarks come weeks after “The Bachelorette” aired a moving conversation between Season 16’s second lead, Tayshia Adams, and contestant Ivan Hall. During their unprecedented one-on-one date, the pair discussed embracing their respective biracial identities in a divisive sociopolitical climate and their personal connections to this summer’s Black Lives Matter protests.