Hi Chris — Thank you so much for reading, for your honesty, and for sharing your story. You are not alone. There are many White people who did not realize the effect of their words and actions for the simple reason you so eloquently stated in this highlight. We live in a country that doesn’t even fully acknowledge racism, let alone hold anyone accountable for practicing it, so unless you were taught, how would you know?

Thankfully you are open enough and have enough humanity to show empathy and that’s the first step. Your words give me hope and serve as proof that those who do have good hearts but we’re just entrenched in the racial ignorance and denial this country perpetuates are able to see that unconscious biases are not a myth. I sincerely appreciate you for reading and for sharing your thoughts.