Hi Marley, First off, your anger is justified. Period.

Thank you for engaging with me. I feel that open and honest dialogue is so important. I will admit that your comments about Biden were upsetting. The conspiracy theories run amok right now and I my relationships have been poisoned because of them. Some believe him to be a pedophile and a communist, among other things and my support for him has been misjudged and even attacked. It just hit me the wrong way.

We all suffer the vagaries of systemic racism because at its root is the dis-ease that will destory our democracy. The loss of dignity and human rights that blacks have suffered is unconscionable and sickens me at my very core. I am NOT a southerner, but I come from a part of the country that is extremely white and racist. I just didn't know it growing up because there were no people of color living in the town where I lived. My first face-to-face experience with it was that trip to Alabama when I was 11 years old. My very young mind could not wrap my head around what I witnessed. My mother, gratefully, did her best to teach me that every person should be treated with dignity. And yes, because I do that, it influenced what I learned and saw. I suffered from the ignorance of the deep passive messages of racism by saying what I thought were kind things in my effort to reach out. I have learned that awareness is a process and "nice" can be as sharp a knife.

Your impatience is fair. But in truth, we all need it, we need it desperately right now. I do push back against racist ideology and comments when I have an opportunity. There is a misconception that all white people are powerful but that is simply not true. For those of us who are powerless and in this fight, it has to be one person at a time. My family is interracial and I am at least fortunate in that respect. I too get deep feelings of powerlessness when it comes to making this all right. Whether you accept that or not it is a fact. I deeply, deeply care.

I worked tirelessly to get Joe Biden elected because I felt he cared. He too must sludge his way through the systemic White Supremacy of laws, cultural conditioning, and hate. I'm not an elected official and would never presume to be smart enough to know the answers to the political maze in any way when it comes to this issue. But I do acknowledge that having lived 68 years I have seen progress.

Marley, I have seen what anger turned to hate can do to the person. We think we send it out the door but it never leaves the doorstep, only turns back on us. Your passion and willingness to engage has more power than you know. You engaged with me. In a respectful, albeit aggressive and outspoken way. But if you hate me or judge me there is no hope at all. Your allies that are on the right side of this issue need support, even if they are imperfect and at times expose their own ignorance. I just feel the world needs those of us (both black and white) who deeply understand this to become allies ourselves in this fight. I just want you to know I am with you all the way.

Have you listened to the podcast Day X? There are forces working both sides of this issue and setting a match to our efforts. It is so worth listening to.

I don't want to fix anything, I just want to be part of the solution. Please give those of us who do want that a chance, even the President. <3

My warmest regard to you ... and yes, I will take a look at your suggestions. :)