Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Chapter 13 begins with a question about why Black people resist arrest and disobey police orders. Anger lies at the root of these behaviors. Collective anger about police violence and systemic inequality fueled the 2020 protests for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others murdered by White police officers.

Civil disobedience refers to nonviolent protests, such as the sit-ins of the Civil Rights era. By contrast, a riot is an assembly of people acting with a common intent to disturb the peace, often resulting in looting and property damage. Rebellions may also involve looting, but unlike riots, the actions are a response to injustice.

White privilege determines how law enforcement, politicians, and the media describe and police Black protests: Typically, these civic actions are labeled riots and policed differently. Responses to White protests often consist of little to nothing, while Black protesters routinely meet with police violence.

Looting and property damage occurred during the 2020 BLM protests, alongside civil disobedience and community meetings. The protest brought about change, including the removal of Confederate monuments by local governments. Acho argues that systemic racism necessitates varied forms of protest, ranging from civil disobedience to more extreme acts. Marching, writing, and music can also bring about change, in addition to education, signing petitions, donating to the right causes, and supporting efforts to redirect police funding to community programs.

Chapter 14 starts with a question about how best to support Black people. The fight for racial justice requires allies, people from empowered groups who help oppressed groups, even if that aid comes at a personal cost. Allyship is selfless, not self-serving. Further, allyship does not imply that Black people are incapable of saving themselves. Indeed, the concept of the well-intentioned White savior harms Black people, not only because it is patronizing, but also because it allows White people to maintain the status quo rather than make meaningful change. Education is the foundation of good allyship. True allies hold themselves and others accountable for racist behavior and expand their sphere of influence. Allyship demands commitment and action. Attending protests, supporting political candidates who promote social justice, and discussing racism with friends and family are also important acts of allyship. Working in conversation with Black people, White allies can create a more just society.

Chapter 15 starts with a question about the aims of racial justice activists. Ending racism is the end goal. Racism remains a key contributor to inequality in the US. It has changed shape, yet it remains as pernicious as ever. Because racism is ever changing, fighting it demands vigilance. Racism falls into three main categories: individual, systemic, and internalized. The first two correspond, respectively, to Parts 1 and 2 of Acho’s book. By contrast, the third does not map onto Part 3, but rather, underlies the entirety of the book. Internalized racism refers to Black people supporting White privilege and power. It also refers to the self-doubt Black people experience about their identity and each other—for example, Acho wondering if he was Black enough because of his classmates’ limited perceptions of blackness.

Scientifically, race is a social construct—there are no biological markers for racial categories. White people did not exist as a race until colonial lawmakers sought to outlaw marriages between Europeans and others. Anti-miscegenation laws prohibiting Europeans from marrying Black people created the White race. Racism developed to enrich and empower White men in the cotton and sugarcane industries.

Hate is learned. Thus, it can be unlearned. Achieving this requires new, innovative solutions. White people must boldly participate in this process. Open and honest conversations are central. A world without racism is possible, if people work together.