You Have to Start Somewhere…

“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”
— Maya Angelou

Racism touches every single person in America and casts its shadow far beyond our borders, influencing people around the world. It divides us, creating walls that keep us from truly knowing one another. In our country, this divide persists largely because of a lack of understanding—a gap that fuels prejudices, frustrations, and misunderstandings for both Black and white communities.

It’s long past time to come together, to listen, to learn. We must ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions: Why do we have this barrier? Are Black people trying to take over? Do we fear them, resent them, or even understand why we feel this way? Why do so many Black Americans live in communities separate from many of us? And most importantly, do we truly know our history?

To bridge the divide, we must understand how Black people came to America and the systemic injustices that shaped—and continue to shape—their lives. If we confront the truth of their status then and now, we might be able to learn from our mistakes and reimagine a democracy built on equality. Equal rights. Equal opportunities.

For our family, this journey began with a choice: to live and collaborate within a predominantly Black community. It’s been a path of learning, empathy, and growth. By immersing ourselves in this environment, we’ve gained a deeper sensitivity and an understanding of what it means to walk through America as Black—even if only vicariously.

Now, my wife and I find ourselves in a unique position. We are a minority within a minority, and I want to share how that came to be. I want to share why it happened, the lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how this experience has profoundly changed our family for the better.

There’s no perfect place to begin this work, but we all have to start somewhere. Let’s start by acknowledging the barriers that keep us apart and commit to tearing them down, one step at a time.