While Benjamin Watson, a tight end for the New Orleans Saints, was playing a tough Monday night football game against the Baltimore Ravens, news broke in Ferguson, Missouri, of the grand jury's decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown.

Like many black Americans, the 11-year NFL veteran was stunned and angry, but condemned the rioters in Ferguson and in other cities around the country.Throughout the next day Watson wrote down what he was feeling and produced an essay which quickly went viral. Within hours, his Facebook post received 427,000 shares and more than 760,000 likes.In 611 words, Watson wrote of the range of emotions he felt, including anger, frustration, fear, embarrassment, sadness, sympathy, confusion, introspection, hopelessness, hopefulness and encouragement. Here is an excerpt from his essay:"I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.I'M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life.I'M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I'm a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a "threat" to those who don't know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.I'M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.I'M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.I'M HOPELESS, because I've lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I'm not surprised and at some point my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.I'M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it's a beautiful thing.I'M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn ... The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It's the Gospel. So, finally, I'M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope."Compare his essay to the vindictive words of the Rev. Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist and mob inciter who sounded vengeful when he spoke these words at a St. Louis church service: "You won the first round, Mr. Prosecutor, but don't take your gloves off. Justice will come to Ferguson."By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com