I told a friend yesterday that “ally” is not an identity that you can choose for yourself. It’s what someone else call you when you have their back. So I don’t get to tell you I’m on your side. I get to show you I am. Then you can tell someone else, and maybe they’ll agree.

She said that didn’t seem fair; shouldn’t there be a way she can flag herself safe? A sincere white person? One who means no harm?

I told her there’s a phrase : one of the good ones. You know, I bet some called Philando that.

She didn’t say anything. So I never got to tell her I was sure it would all work out fine as long as she acted right. Only time will tell if she heard. And in a hundred generations or so, we will know; because either her descendants will move in that sound too, or no one will be left to do any moving at all.