NFL’s Benjamin Watson returns to Rock Hill to sign his book ‘Under Our Skin’

As Benjamin Watson sat in a Target parking lot in New Orleans, typing his reaction to the events in Ferguson, Mo., he gave more thought to his emotions than the consequences of speaking his mind.

With the help of a friend, he posted his thoughts – 611 words – to Facebook on Nov. 25, 2014. His range of emotions has, so far, generated more than 863,000 likes and 471,000 shares.

The post is the basis for Watson’s first book, “Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race – and Getting Free From the Fears and Frustrations That Divide Us” which he will sign from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at Books-A-Million in Rock Hill.

He plans to give a synopsis of the book, answer questions and sign books.

While Watson, a Northwestern High School graduate and now tight end with the New Orleans Saints, likes to write, he insists, “I’m not a professional writer.”

Nonetheless, “Under Our Skin,” has put Watson on a stage bigger than football. The Facebook post and book have allowed Watson to, in his own words, become a small voice” on the topic of race in America, “bringing some light to the situation.”

He wrote the book after football practices and pre-season games, expanding on the thoughts he had typed into his iPhone.

As a pro athlete, he said, there were times he questioned himself. People are always watching pro athletes and other stars, looking for the slightest reason to criticize.

“You think about things carefully,” Watson said Thursday from New Orleans.

He applied the same standard to himself that he wants his readers to have – honesty.

Watson said the book is both satisfying and cause for trepidation.

“Some parts of the book are brutally honest,” he said. “They will offend people and that’s a good idea.”

Watson selected veteran editor and writer Ken Petersen to assist him.

“I had never worked with a writer,” Watson said, “Would it sound like me?”

He had the answer quickly, reading portions of the book Petersen crafted from long conversations with Watson.

Watson’s first reaction was “I didn’t say that.” Rereading the passage, he realized, “I did say that.

“He understood my voice.”

Petersen helped Watson expand on his thoughts, add childhood memories and “tapped into my emotion” – all in the space of about two months, Watson said.

Petersen, who edited the popular “Left Behind” series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, as well Charles Colson’s book, “The Good Life,” said Watson contributed much of the book.

“He’s an extremely intelligent guy and a deeper thinker,” Petersen said Thursday from Colorado Springs, Colo.

While the writing process was easy, Petersen said, the subject was challenging.

Petersen said the first time he heard of Watson’s Facebook post was in church when his minister in Colorado Springs read it. “It moved me to tears,” Petersen said.

When he sat down with Watson to expand the essay into a book, Petersen said, he realized the Facebook post was “the perfect outline for the book.”

Working with Watson was special, Petersen said, because Watson was “honest about how he felt.” The most difficult chapter to write, Petersen said, was the one on hip-hop music, which Watson wanted to reflect his fondness for some of the music and at the same time the problems it posed.

Petersen and Watson worked together to “find different words, the right words, to paint a more complex picture” of hip-hop, Petersen said.

The book was released in November. Petersen said he sent out copies as Christmas gifts to friends – not because he wrote it but because it was “a message I wanted people to read.”

Watson said the reaction to the book has been as mixed as his reaction to the Ferguson shooting.

People write him or post on social media that the book has caused them to cry, clap, be sad, mad, angry and happy – as they read the pages. And at the end of the post they tell Watson, “I’m glad you wrote the book.”

“I hear that over and over again,” Watson said.

Watson said he hopes people who read the book will “look inside themselves, and be honest with themselves.”

He wants people to better understand themselves, understand their own biases and “biases they didn’t know they had.”

Watson said he hopes people will have “respect for others, forgive someone else, there’s action to be taken.

“It’s hard topic to talk about but I hope this book is a conversation starter.”

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 6:27 PM with the headline "NFL’s Benjamin Watson returns to Rock Hill to sign his book ‘Under Our Skin’."