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What follows is a conversation that happen. I want you to imagine who is saying what. What parts of it is real. When this has happened to you.

A Conversation:

A: Oprah is Racist.

D, E & Co.: Yeah she hates white people.

C: Wait, but she has white people on her show.

D: They are facades!!!

D, E & Co.: once again laughter! She is so racist!!!

A: It's like backwards affirmative action!!

B: Wait.. What? Racism is a power structure.

Every Letter: Silence.

B: Well, Racism is a system of power so white people have the power and people of color are shafted. So it's not possible for a person of color to be "racist" against white people. It's prejudice.

A: Well Oprah is a black and has more power than everyone so RASPBERRY MOUTH BLOW!!!

B: She does not hold as much pow--

A: THHHHFFFFFPPPPTTTTTTTT...

B: You doing that is a showcase of your power.


What then? I feel like I've had so many of these conversations, and I've crawled back to my safe space of warm loving people. And after every encounter like this with the real world, I take the time to replay the moment, the expressions, the words. Eventually, I develop a response to their statements, so next time I will be prepared. I will be prepared.

This is what I think. Your own safety comes first. That's for ever individual to measure for themselves. But if you feel like you will be safe-- SPEAK UP! I am so tired of people relaying stories to me, calling me when we haven't spoken for months because they think I will have that sympathetic ear. I always ask the same question. What did you do about it?