A lot of people don’t want to talk about it. They’re afraid they’ll say something wrong, or get in trouble.
But across the United States, more people are coming to the realization that conversations about race are long overdue.
In her bestselling book So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo explains that too often, people let their emotions get in the way of productive dialogue. Systemic racism is about more than individuals, and if you’re white, it’s not about your personal feelings.
If you do say something wrong, it’s not the end of the world. Just apologize, and try to make things better if possible. Then move on, confident that you’ll learn from the experience.
Racism is upsetting because it exists, not because people talk about it. Tough conversations about race can open up a new way of connecting with different people. For more tips on terrific dialogues, check out our Instaread on So You Want to Talk About Race.
