A candid conversation with a white friend who discusses her racial prejudice

A white woman friend texted me. She wanted a candid discussion on race, given her church’s foray into social justice activism of some form.

A white woman friend’s racial prejudice

My friend sent me the following text a few days ago.

I need to talk to you when you have some time. Wish it could be in person, but that’s not going to work now. Maybe FaceTime or Zoom? Anyway, a small group in my church is moving toward social justice work, specifically racial reconciliation. Need to have an honest conversation if you are willing.

There was no doubt that I wanted to have the conversation, especially in these times. Over the last decades, irresponsible politicians have been attempting to erode the racial progress we have made over the last century. It is a subject we must not shy away from but lean into.

My friend was concerned that many of their peers believe things are just fine. They believe they are neither racist nor that the country has any racial problems.

Interestingly, my friend decided to self-examine, and she found that she had a racial prejudice that shocked her. Upon the realization, she said she is working through it.

We all have prejudices of various types, some more impactful than others. We should all make every attempt to work through them. After all, our humanity is the same. Prejudices were placed in us usually to exert power that one can get by dividing people by arbitrary means.

A few years ago, I interviewed Layla Tromble & Terri Kempton of ‘White Nonsense Roundup.’ which is well worth watching. Talking and listening to each other is how we will create change.