I think it’s only a problematic to recognize that we are all complicit—albeit to widely varying degrees—in upholding racist power structures if the recognition ends there and does not compel further action. If “racism is okay ‘cause everyone does it” is what anyone chooses to take away from this article, then that’s on them, and I’d say it’s likely they probably already thought that way. In no way did I ever suggest that THAT should be the response—just the opposite.

This article was primarily written for two groups of people: White people who think that, because they are not consciously racist, they do not need to consider the ways that their behaviors can be unintentionally harmful toward Blacks: and Blacks who think that because they are oppressed, they can’t in any way be complicit for leveraging racist ideologies or behaviors toward themselves or other Black people. I hope you agree that both ideas are fallacies and must be exposed as such if we are ever to confront and dismantle racism in all its pernicious forms.

This essay was not to excuse racism. It is a call to action. As I said, “Admitting is the first step.” Once enough of us recognize how we are part of the problem, we can redirect to become part of the solution.