Thank you, and I appreciate the conversation as well.

Our understanding of systemic racism is still evolving, and with it the language we use to discuss it. These terms--racism, racist, privilege--are all very loaded and ignite emotional responses in different people, for sometimes very different reasons.

My goal is the liberation of all people, but especially Black people, whose forced suffering and sacrifices for this country can never be fully measured or atoned for. Period.

As you quoted the great Audre Lorde, "The master's tools never dismantle the master's house." I believe we must always call out the master's tools for what they are--ANTI-BLACK RACISM--whether they are wielded at the hands of a White or Black person--or anyone else for that fact. To do anything less--I feel this strongly--would be sugarcoating anti-Black racism and therefore serving the racist agenda.

To dismantle systemic racism, we MUST start at the core, the root--and that requires deep examination within ourselves, first and foremost. For if we cannot recognize and uproot the master's racism from ourselves, how can we uproot it from others? How can we uproot it from the system?

This is my stance. I used the word "racism" and not "prejudice" intentionally. Seeing others' comments of how it made them reflect on their own unintentional racism, I believe I did the right thing. Paradigms are shifting toward anti-racism, and that is what I care about.

I may be young, but I stand on the shoulders of giants. Despite how things may seem, their efforts were not in vain. I will do my part to make sure of that.

In the spirit of love and Black liberation.