Mary,

I loathe “whitesplaining” — explaining white people to white people. But you seem sincere, so I’ll respond.

It’s not that black people have “moved beyond” the “pain and wounds” inflicted by white people. None of us can ever just “get over” 400 years (and counting) of incessant degradation and dehumanization. James Baldwin said it best (in paraphrase): All black people secretly desire to kill at least one white person as a means of retribution/revenge/vengeance, in order that they might live a meaningful life.

But of course, that kind of “black rage” is impractical, if for no other reason, than we lack the numbers — in the US. If black people started killing white people wholesale, the “white” Holocaust that would befall us would make the WWII pogrom against the Jews look like child’s play.

And so, we soldier on…waiting…waiting for white people to come to their senses; waiting for white people to realize that their “whiteness” is an invented thing, as is “blackness.” (You would not be “white” without “black” people).

Plus, guess I’m in some way obligated to say this: we know and appreciate that not all of you are pure evil. But! The problem is, and always has been, that there has never been a majority of so-called white people who accepted the humanity of black people. Yet, the minority of you who do know better, eventually, in the end, always, you say nothing, do nothing in the face of obvious evil. That’s why you and others like you must finally put your foot down and rein in or exile your racist family members, friends, co-workers, etc. And stop teaching your children (especially your boys) that they are God’s gift to this earth. You see, only white people can end white supremacy.