You write: This stridency to guilt someone into accepting their biases was not part of the days game plan. The game plan back in the day was to get up, stay up and keep moving forward.

So, again, just what is your plan to make white folks accept, be culpable for the wounds we carry individually? How does that happen?

I’m nearly 60 years old, and my back in the day was a bit different. The game plan in my family was to get up, confront injustice every time, move forward, and knock down some walls for the ones coming up behind you. Wasn’t always successful of course — sometimes the results were awful. But the point was not to be satisfied with less than we earned. Not to accept oppression in any form. Perhaps you find that “strident”, but all I can do is tell my story — same as you, same as everyone.

I’m not sure why you think I’m motivated by making white people “feel” something — guilt or anything else. I’m concerned about being treated with respect. About being able to navigate the world without being minimized, erased or silenced by the dominant culture. I insist on it. I am not always successful :-). But I keep swinging. This essay simply points out the kinds of erasures I’ve experienced, and why they are damaging.

I’d love a master plan to achieve equality for everyone. I think we all — black and white — are inching forward as best we can. And the only way I know to make progress, is to tell our stories.

I appreciate your comments. Thank you.