Former multi-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler recently shared insights into his journey of raising his two adopted boys.
Chandler’s family consists of his wife and two boys, both of whom were adopted recently. Chandler spoke of wanting to raise these guys to be honorable men. Chandler spoke about the extent to which identity politics may blind us to the fact that we are all human beings living on this planet.
Chandler advocates for transcending identity politics and recognizing our shared humanity. He emphasizes that regardless of race, gender, or any other label, instilling qualities of integrity, compassion, and courage is paramount in raising children.
In an interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, Chandler articulated his stance. He stated: “I’m not raising black children, I’m raising children. Whether you are black or you are white, no matter what race that you are, there are certain things about being a man and being a good man when it comes to character and integrity and safeguarding the helpless and sticking up for those who need it.”
He continued: “Being a good man, a good man of reputation, none of that has to do with skin color. Everything has to do with the character of the man. Probably not an answer that some people would say is important but that’s where the world has gone. Where we think that the most important thing about us is our skin color or our gender or our political affiliation.”
38-year-old Michael Chandler and his wife Brie Willet adopted two sons. The couple’s original goals included a baby between the ages of one and six months, but they eventually changed their minds. Their hearts were won over by a nine-month-old baby, and the former Bellator lightweight champion spoke about how his eyes welled up the first time he saw the photo of their eventual first kid.
The Chandler family adopted Hap Whitaker as their first son, and this happened in 2018. They learned that Hap would join their expanding family in a matter of minutes, having previously had to wait months to be eligible. The origin of the name Hap was Chandler giving a nod of respect to Hap Whitney, a wrestling coach at the University of Missouri and a former multiple state champion.