Reading this article as a Africana Studies Masters, I was struck dumb at some points in this article and doubled over with laughter at others. Complex theories are simplified, graceful, and tasty. Your media references were spot on. No one wants to believe that we dream in whiteness — even black people, unless we are trained to appreciate our iconography. Self-hate anyone? Tokenism?

Throughout this tough week on Twitter, I tried explaining to Whites Black talking points ad nauseam. It felt disgusting and tainted an already caustic series of events affecting Black life trailing into this week. After the third day when told by one woman that if I didn’t agree with her, I would chase away people that are trying to help me, I suggested that the best way she can help me or any Black person is to go back to her White friends, investigate where racism enters their lives and conversations, and develop a formula to correct this. I could smell the smoke from her keyboard still.

Throwing my hands up on that one, but I will continue the conversation. A big perk is that my adult children finally understand why I halt their friends mid-conversation when it begins to hurt my ears. They are doing too now. And that is the point.

Our younger generation cannot be given the tools and not be shown the vigor and compensation in using them wisely. So there is an upside to the tear-filled arguments, losing those willing to show us poor Black folk uplift, and sometimes offending those we love most dearly. The struggle is real.