Chapter_NN1 Five_CRD 
Privileged_AJ0 Enough_AV0 
The_AT0 Reality_NN1 of_PRF My_DPS Racism_NN1 and_CJC White_AJ0 ,_PUN Male_AJ0 Privilege_NN1 
You_PNP have_VHB to_TO0 get_VVI over_AVP the_AT0 fear_NN1 of_PRF facing_VVG the_AT0 worst_AJS in_PRP yourself_PNX ._SENT You_PNP should_VM0 instead_AV0 fear_VVI unexamined_AJ0 racism_NN1 ._SENT Fear_VVB the_AT0 thought_NN1 that_CJT right_AV0 now_AV0 ,_PUN you_PNP could_VM0 be_VBI contributing_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 oppression_NN1 of_PRF others_NN2 and_CJC you_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 know_VVI it_PNP ._SENT But_CJC do_VDB not_XX0 fear_VVI those_DT0 who_PNQ bring_VVB that_DT0 oppression_NN1 to_TO0 light_VVI ._SENT Do_VDB not_XX0 fear_VVI the_AT0 opportunity_NN1 to_TO0 do_VDI better_AV0 ._SENT 
—_PUN IJEOMA_NP0 OLUO_NP0 
If_CJS the_AT0 title_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 chapter_NN1 or_CJC the_AT0 above_AJ0 quote_NN1 has_VHZ already_AV0 turned_VVN you_PNP off_AVP ,_PUN I_PNP want_VVB to_TO0 say_VVI two_CRD quick_AJ0 things_NN2 :_PUN I_PNP understand_VVB ,_PUN as_CJS at_PRP one_CRD point_NN1 it_PNP would_VM0 have_VHI turned_VVN me_PNP off_AVP too_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC also_AV0 I_PNP 'm_VBB still_AV0 going_VVG to_TO0 write_VVI about_PRP it_PNP ._SENT Look_VVB ,_PUN I_PNP get_VVB it_PNP ._SENT I_PNP know_VVB how_AVQ politicized_AJ0 and_CJC polarizing_VVG the_AT0 word_NN1 "_PUQ privilege_NN1 "_PUQ has_VHZ become_VVN ._SENT But_CJC if_CJS you_PNP find_VVB yourself_PNX feeling_VVG triggered_VVN by_PRP my_DPS use_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 word_NN1 in_PRP this_DT0 chapter_NN1 ,_PUN then_AV0 I_PNP hope_VVB you_PNP will_VM0 consider_VVI using_VVG the_AT0 tools_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 past_NN1 few_DT0 chapters_NN2 to_TO0 push_VVI past_PRP that_DT0 feeling_NN1 and_CJC ask_VVB yourself_PNX why_AVQ ._SENT This_DT0 is_VBZ n't_XX0 about_AV0 partisan_AJ0 politics_NN1 (_PUL although_CJS an_AT0 argument_NN1 can_VM0 be_VBI made_VVN that_CJT everything_PNI is_VBZ inherently_AV0 political_AJ0 )_PUR ;_PUN this_DT0 is_VBZ about_PRP humanity_NN1 and_CJC my_DPS coming_VVG to_PRP terms_NN2 with_PRP my_DPS own_DT0 worldviews_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 behaviors_NN2 that_CJT have_VHB hurt_VVN people_NN0 I_PNP love_VVB and_CJC contributed_VVN to_PRP a_AT0 world_NN1 where_AVQ inequality_NN1 and_CJC injustice_NN1 run_VVB rampant_AJ0 ._SENT 
In_PRP a_AT0 book_NN1 largely_AV0 based_VVN on_PRP vulnerability_NN1 and_CJC transparency_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP would_VM0 be_VBI remiss_AJ0 not_XX0 to_TO0 make_VVI it_PNP known_AJ0 that_CJT this_DT0 chapter_NN1 was_VBD written_VVN last_ORD ,_PUN yet_AV0 it_PNP is_VBZ going_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 middle_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 book_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP had_VHD just_AV0 finished_VVN writing_VVG more_AV0 than_CJS eighty_CRD thousand_CRD words_NN2 ,_PUN touching_VVG on_PRP my_DPS whiteness_NN1 here_AV0 and_CJC there_AV0 ,_PUN mostly_AV0 reiterating_VVG that_CJT my_DPS story_NN1 —_PUN this_DT0 book_NN1 —_PUN was_VBD of_PRF course_NN1 written_VVN through_PRP my_DPS lens_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 white_AJ0 male_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC I_PNP never_AV0 really_AV0 dove_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 systemic_AJ0 racism_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC definitely_AV0 not_XX0 my_DPS personal_AJ0 racism_NN1 ,_PUN that_DT0 's_VBZ very_AV0 much_AV0 at_PRP play_NN1 in_PRP my_DPS story_NN1 and_CJC in_PRP my_DPS socialization_NN1 ._SENT 
Then_AV0 on_PRP May_NP0 25_CRD ,_PUN 2020_CRD ,_PUN George_NP0 Floyd_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 Black_AJ0 American_AJ0 man_NN1 ,_PUN was_VBD murdered_VVN by_PRP police_NN2 officers_NN2 in_PRP Minneapolis_NP0 ._SENT While_CJS Mr._NP0 Floyd_NP0 was_VBD far_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD Black_AJ0 person_NN1 to_TO0 be_VBI murdered_VVN by_PRP police_NN2 ,_PUN there_EX0 was_VBD a_AT0 difference_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 collective_AJ0 response_NN1 of_PRF white_AJ0 people_NN0 to_PRP his_DPS murder_NN1 both_AV0 here_AV0 in_PRP the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 and_CJC abroad_AV0 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VHZ been_VBN said_VVN that_CJT 2020_CRD was_VBD about_AV0 finally_AV0 being_VBG able_AJ0 to_TO0 see_VVI things_NN2 clearly_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC for_PRP many_DT0 of_PRF us_PNP white_AJ0 folks_NN2 ,_PUN seeing_VVG Mr._NP0 Floyd_NP0 murdered_VVD by_PRP a_AT0 police_NN2 officer_NN1 while_CJS others_NN2 stood_VVD by_AVP and_CJC did_VDD nothing_PNI was_VBD enough_AV0 to_TO0 see_VVI clearly_AV0 that_CJT perhaps_AV0 there_EX0 has_VHZ been_VBN and_CJC continues_VVZ to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 larger_AJC problem_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC that_CJT we_PNP are_VBB a_AT0 part_NN1 of_PRF it_PNP ._SENT I_PNP was_VBD forced_VVN to_TO0 really_AV0 look_VVI at_PRP why_AVQ I_PNP had_VHD n't_XX0 responded_VVN with_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 outrage_NN1 to_PRP previous_AJ0 murders_NN2 ,_PUN why_AVQ I_PNP was_VBD n't_XX0 using_VVG my_DPS voice_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 megaphone_NN1 given_VVN to_PRP my_DPS voice_NN1 ,_PUN for_PRP anti-racism_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 way_NN1 I_PNP had_VHD used_VVN it_PNP for_PRP anti-sexism_NN1 ._SENT What_DTQ was_VBD it_PNP in_PRP me_PNP that_DT0 chose_VVD to_TO0 ignore_VVI this_DT0 problem_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 way_NN1 that_CJT many_DT0 men_NN2 ignore_VVB their_DPS socialized_AJ0 masculinity_NN1 ?_SENT Why_AVQ as_PRP a_AT0 Bahá'í_NN1 who_PNQ believes_VVZ in_PRP the_AT0 eradication_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 -isms_NN2 ,_PUN who_PNQ holds_VVZ tightly_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 words_NN2 of_PRF Bahá'u'lláh_NP0 ,_PUN "_PUQ Ye_PNP are_VBB the_AT0 fruits_NN2 of_PRF one_CRD tree_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 leaves_NN2 of_PRF one_CRD branch_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ did_VDD I_PNP not_XX0 address_VVI this_DT0 in_PRP myself_PNX ,_PUN in_PRP our_DPS world_NN1 ,_PUN earlier_AV0 ?_SENT Why_AVQ was_VBD I_PNP so_AV0 willing_AJ0 to_TO0 "_PUQ get_VVI comfortable_AJ0 in_PRP the_AT0 uncomfortable_AJ0 "_PUQ in_PRP regard_NN1 to_PRP my_DPS masculinity_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC so_AV0 unwilling_AJ0 to_PRP in_PRP regard_NN1 to_PRP racism_NN1 and_CJC white_AJ0 privilege_NN1 ?_SENT 
It_PNP is_VBZ my_DPS job_NN1 ,_PUN my_DPS responsibility_NN1 ,_PUN my_DPS duty_NN1 ,_PUN not_XX0 only_AV0 to_TO0 figure_VVI out_AVP the_AT0 answers_NN2 to_PRP these_DT0 questions_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC also_AV0 to_TO0 use_VVI the_AT0 resources_NN2 readily_AV0 available_AJ0 to_PRP me_PNP to_TO0 educate_VVI myself_PNX and_CJC use_VVB the_AT0 unearned_AJ0 power_NN1 I_PNP have_VHB been_VBN given_VVN as_PRP a_AT0 white_AJ0 man_NN1 to_TO0 help_VVI change_VVI the_AT0 system_NN1 so_CJS it_PNP is_VBZ more_AV0 equitable_AJ0 for_PRP everyone_PNI ._SENT 
Intersectionality_NN1 Is_VBZ Integrity_NN1 
For_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD time_NN1 in_PRP more_AV0 than_CJS thirty-five_CRD years_NN2 ,_PUN I_PNP am_VBB recognizing_VVG that_CJT my_DPS socialization_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 man_NN1 cannot_NN1 be_VBI separated_VVN from_PRP my_DPS socialization_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 white_AJ0 person_NN1 —_PUN and_CJC to_TO0 be_VBI able_AJ0 to_TO0 separate_VVI them_PNP for_PRP as_CJS long_AV0 as_CJS I_PNP have_VHB is_VBZ a_AT0 privilege_NN1 that_CJT I_PNP have_VHB continuously_AV0 benefited_VVN from_PRP ._SENT In_PRP fact_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP 's_VBZ part_NN1 of_PRF why_AVQ I_PNP have_VHB the_AT0 platform_NN1 I_PNP have_VHB ,_PUN why_AVQ I_PNP am_VBB able_AJ0 to_TO0 produce_VVI and_CJC direct_AJ0 movies_NN2 ,_PUN act_NN1 in_PRP Hollywood_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC write_VVB this_DT0 book_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP other_AJ0 words_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 system_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX0 benefit_VVI me_PNP just_AV0 because_CJS I_PNP am_VBB a_AT0 man_NN1 ;_PUN the_AT0 system_NN1 also_AV0 benefits_VVZ me_PNP because_CJS I_PNP am_VBB a_AT0 white_AJ0 man_NN1 (_PUL not_XX0 to_TO0 mention_VVI ,_PUN an_AT0 able-bodied_AJ0 heterosexual_AJ0 cis_NN1 white_AJ0 man_NN1 from_PRP a_AT0 middle-class_AJ0 family_NN1 )_PUR ._SENT As_CJS Nico_NP0 Juárez_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 Mexican_AJ0 American_AJ0 man_NN1 with_PRP Tzotzil_NP0 ancestry_NN1 ,_PUN said_VVD when_CJS he_PNP shared_VVD part_NN1 of_PRF his_DPS story_NN1 in_PRP Liz_NP0 Plank_NP0 's_POS book_NN1 ,_PUN For_PRP the_AT0 Love_NN1 of_PRF Men_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ Race_NN1 fundamentally_AV0 changes_VVZ masculinity_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP need_VVB to_TO0 think_VVI about_PRP masculinity_NN1 as_PRP a_AT0 deeply_AV0 racial_AJ0 issue_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ 
It_PNP 's_VHZ only_AV0 been_VBN in_PRP the_AT0 past_NN1 few_DT0 years_NN2 that_CJT I_PNP have_VHB learned_VVN that_CJT the_AT0 idea_NN1 that_CJT I_PNP exist_VVB in_PRP intersecting_AJ0 areas_NN2 of_PRF privilege_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC should_VM0 then_AV0 be_VBI using_VVG those_DT0 privileges_NN2 to_TO0 advocate_VVI on_PRP behalf_NN1 of_PRF those_DT0 on_PRP the_AT0 other_AJ0 end_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 spectrum_NN1 ,_PUN is_VBZ part_NN1 of_PRF what_DTQ 's_VHZ called_VVN intersectionality_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 term_NN1 that_CJT has_VHZ been_VBN used_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 fight_NN1 for_PRP equality_NN1 and_CJC equity_NN1 by_PRP activists_NN2 and_CJC organizers_NN2 for_PRP more_AV0 than_CJS three_CRD decades_NN2 ._SENT 
Kimberlé_NP0 Crenshaw_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 professor_NN1 of_PRF law_NN1 at_PRP UCLA_NP0 and_CJC Columbia_NP0 Law_NN1 School_NN1 ,_PUN coined_VVD the_AT0 term_NN1 "_PUQ intersectionality_NN1 "_PUQ in_PRP 1989_CRD when_AVQ she_PNP published_VVD a_AT0 paper_NN1 that_CJT focused_VVD on_PRP legal_AJ0 cases_NN2 that_CJT dealt_VVD with_PRP issues_NN2 of_PRF both_DT0 racial_AJ0 and_CJC sexual_AJ0 discrimination_NN1 ._SENT Crenshaw_NP0 describes_VVZ intersectionality_NN1 as_PRP "_PUQ a_AT0 lens_NN1 through_PRP which_DTQ you_PNP can_VM0 see_VVI where_AVQ power_NN1 comes_VVZ and_CJC collides_VVZ ,_PUN where_AVQ it_PNP interlocks_NN2 and_CJC intersects_VVZ ._SENT It_PNP 's_VBZ not_XX0 simply_AV0 that_CJT there_EX0 's_VBZ a_AT0 race_NN1 problem_NN1 here_AV0 ,_PUN a_AT0 gender_NN1 problem_NN1 here_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC a_AT0 class_NN1 or_CJC LGBTQ_NP0 problem_NN1 there_AV0 ._SENT Many_DT0 times_NN2 ,_PUN that_DT0 framework_NN1 erases_VVZ what_DTQ happens_VVZ to_PRP people_NN0 who_PNQ are_VBB subject_AJ0 to_PRP all_DT0 of_PRF these_DT0 things_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ 
In_PRP other_AJ0 words_NN2 ,_PUN I_PNP cannot_VVB write_VVB a_AT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN live_VVB a_AT0 life_NN1 of_PRF integrity_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC openly_AV0 discuss_VVB wrestling_VVG with_PRP my_DPS masculinity_NN1 without_PRP simultaneously_AV0 wrestling_VVG with_PRP the_AT0 racial_AJ0 bias_NN1 ,_PUN prejudices_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC discrimination_NN1 that_CJT coexist_VVB in_PRP my_DPS socialization_NN1 within_PRP this_DT0 culture_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP cannot_VVB learn_VVB about_PRP how_AVQ sexism_NN1 and_CJC gender_NN1 inequality_NN1 have_VHB benefited_VVN me_PNP at_PRP the_AT0 cost_NN1 of_PRF women_NN2 ,_PUN trans_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC nonbinary_AJ0 people_NN0 without_PRP also_AV0 educating_VVG myself_PNX on_PRP how_AVQ racism_NN1 and_CJC racial_AJ0 inequality_NN1 has_VHZ benefited_VVN me_PNP at_PRP the_AT0 cost_NN1 of_PRF Black_AJ0 people_NN0 ,_PUN Indigenous_AJ0 people_NN0 ,_PUN and_CJC other_AJ0 people_NN0 of_PRF color_NN1 ._SENT 
I_PNP have_VHB a_AT0 lot_NN1 to_TO0 learn_VVI ._SENT I_PNP have_VHB a_AT0 lot_NN1 to_TO0 unlearn_VVI ._SENT This_DT0 chapter_NN1 is_VBZ merely_AV0 a_AT0 glimpse_NN1 into_PRP the_AT0 work_NN1 that_DT0 is_VBZ just_AV0 beginning_VVG in_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC like_PRP the_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 book_NN1 ,_PUN it_PNP will_VM0 never_AV0 be_VBI complete_AJ0 ,_PUN as_CJS my_DPS learnings_NN2 will_VM0 never_AV0 be_VBI complete_AJ0 ._SENT And_CJC because_CJS it_PNP 's_VBZ just_AV0 a_AT0 glimpse_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP am_VBB going_VVG to_TO0 focus_VVI mostly_AV0 on_PRP the_AT0 impact_NN1 my_DPS whiteness_NN1 and_CJC racism_NN1 have_VHB on_PRP the_AT0 Black_AJ0 community_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS that_DT0 is_VBZ what_DTQ I_PNP 'm_VBB learning_VVG about_AVP most_AV0 right_AV0 now_AV0 ,_PUN while_CJS also_AV0 knowing_VVG that_CJT the_AT0 impact_NN1 goes_VVZ beyond_PRP that_DT0 into_PRP Indigenous_AJ0 communities_NN2 and_CJC the_AT0 communities_NN2 of_PRF all_DT0 people_NN0 of_PRF color_NN1 ._SENT Each_DT0 community_NN1 has_VHZ a_AT0 specific_AJ0 intersection_NN1 with_PRP racism_NN1 and_CJC whiteness_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC truth_NN1 be_VBI told_VVN ,_PUN I_PNP have_VHB n't_XX0 done_VDN enough_DT0 of_PRF the_AT0 private_AJ0 ,_PUN personal_AJ0 work_NN1 in_PRP regard_NN1 to_PRP Indigenous_AJ0 communities_NN2 and_CJC other_AJ0 communities_NN2 of_PRF color_NN1 yet_AV0 to_TO0 speak_VVI from_PRP an_AT0 educated_AJ0 place_NN1 of_PRF integrity_NN1 ._SENT Even_AV0 in_PRP writing_NN1 about_PRP what_DTQ I_PNP have_VHB learned_VVN in_PRP this_DT0 chapter_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP fear_VVB that_CJT there_EX0 's_VBZ a_AT0 good_AJ0 chance_NN1 I_PNP will_VM0 look_VVI back_AVP in_PRP a_AT0 year_NN1 ,_PUN five_CRD years_NN2 ,_PUN or_CJC ten_CRD years_NN2 at_PRP this_DT0 chapter_NN1 (_PUL and_CJC really_AV0 this_DT0 book_NN1 )_PUR and_CJC see_VVB that_CJT I_PNP have_VHB said_VVN something_PNI offensive_AJ0 and_CJC ignorant_AJ0 ._SENT At_PRP the_AT0 same_DT0 time_NN1 I_PNP would_VM0 rather_AV0 face_VVI that_DT0 fear_NN1 than_CJS ,_PUN as_PRP author_NN1 and_CJC speaker_NN1 Ijeoma_NP0 Oluo_NP0 says_VVZ ,_PUN fear_VVB my_DPS own_DT0 unexamined_AJ0 racism_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 thought_NN1 that_CJT right_AV0 now_AV0 I_PNP could_VM0 be_VBI contributing_VVG to_PRP the_AT0 oppression_NN1 of_PRF others_NN2 ,_PUN of_PRF people_NN0 I_PNP love_VVB ,_PUN of_PRF my_DPS own_DT0 family_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC not_XX0 even_AV0 know_VVI it_PNP ._SENT 
I_PNP Do_VDB n't_XX0 See_VVB Color_NN1 
Kay_NP0 and_CJC I_PNP became_VVD friends_NN2 through_PRP our_DPS shared_AJ0 faith_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP is_VBZ a_AT0 Black_AJ0 woman_NN1 who_PNQ exemplifies_VVZ '_PUQ Abdu'l-Bahá_NP0 's_POS words_NN2 when_CJS he_PNP says_VVZ ,_PUN "_PUQ Thou_PNP art_VBB like_AV0 unto_PRP the_AT0 pupil_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 eye_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ is_VBZ dark_AJ0 in_PRP color_NN1 ,_PUN yet_AV0 is_VBZ the_AT0 fount_NN1 of_PRF light_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 revealer_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 contingent_AJ0 world_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Unfortunately_AV0 ,_PUN like_PRP many_DT0 Black_AJ0 women_NN2 experience_NN1 ,_PUN Kay_NP0 's_POS profound_AJ0 impact_NN1 on_PRP my_DPS journey_NN1 with_PRP privilege_NN1 ,_PUN racism_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC racial_AJ0 justice_NN1 came_VVD at_PRP a_AT0 cost_NN1 to_PRP her_PNP —_PUN a_AT0 cost_NN1 she_PNP never_AV0 should_VM0 have_VHI had_VHN to_TO0 pay_VVI ._SENT 
Soon_AV0 after_PRP Emily_NP0 and_CJC I_PNP were_VBD married_VVN ,_PUN a_AT0 small_AJ0 group_NN1 of_PRF six_CRD of_PRF our_DPS friends_NN2 flew_VVD from_PRP Los_NP0 Angeles_NP0 to_PRP Nashville_NP0 ,_PUN Tennessee_NP0 ,_PUN for_PRP a_AT0 wedding_NN1 ._SENT Kay_NP0 was_VBD in_PRP that_DT0 group_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC not_XX0 only_AV0 was_VBD she_PNP the_AT0 only_AV0 Black_AJ0 woman_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 group_NN1 ,_PUN she_PNP also_AV0 was_VBD the_AT0 only_AV0 Black_AJ0 person_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 wedding_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 wedding_NN1 was_VBD beautiful_AJ0 and_CJC fun_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 newly_AV0 married_AJ0 couple_NN1 reveled_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 joy_NN1 of_PRF being_VBG surrounded_VVN by_PRP their_DPS loved_AJ0 ones_NN2 ._SENT After_PRP the_AT0 celebration_NN1 ,_PUN our_DPS group_NN1 of_PRF six_CRD headed_VVD out_AVP together_AV0 to_TO0 go_VVI explore_VVI the_AT0 nightlife_NN1 in_PRP Nashville_NP0 ._SENT As_CJS we_PNP got_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 car_NN1 ,_PUN Kay_NP0 began_VVD to_TO0 cry_VVI ._SENT Something_PNI at_PRP the_AT0 wedding_NN1 had_VHD gone_VVN completely_AV0 unnoticed_AJ0 by_PRP the_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF us_PNP and_CJC had_VHD deeply_AV0 hurt_VVN her_PNP ._SENT And_CJC the_AT0 fact_NN1 that_CJT none_PNI of_PRF us_PNP had_VHD the_AT0 awareness_NN1 to_TO0 notice_VVI she_PNP was_VBD uncomfortable_AJ0 and_CJC hurt_AJ0 made_VVD it_PNP even_AV0 worse_AJC ._SENT When_CJS we_PNP first_ORD arrived_VVD at_PRP the_AT0 wedding_NN1 ,_PUN each_DT0 guest_NN1 was_VBD handed_VVN a_AT0 program_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 small_AJ0 bag_NN1 with_PRP instructions_NN2 to_TO0 toss_VVI the_AT0 contents_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 bag_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 air_NN1 toward_PRP the_AT0 married_AJ0 couple_NN1 as_CJS they_PNP walked_VVD up_AVP the_AT0 aisle_NN1 ._SENT At_PRP some_DT0 weddings_NN2 this_DT0 happens_VVZ with_PRP bubbles_NN2 or_CJC rice_NN1 ;_PUN others_NN2 lead_VVB the_AT0 couple_NN1 out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 reception_NN1 with_PRP sparklers_NN2 ._SENT At_PRP this_DT0 wedding_NN1 ,_PUN however_AV0 ,_PUN each_DT0 bag_NN1 was_VBD filled_VVN with_PRP fresh_AJ0 cotton_NN1 that_CJT we_PNP were_VBD to_TO0 pick_VVI apart_AV0 and_CJC toss_VVB ,_PUN like_PRP confetti_NN2 ,_PUN in_PRP celebration_NN1 of_PRF their_DPS love_NN1 ._SENT 
That_DT0 's_VBZ right_AJ0 ,_PUN Kay_NP0 was_VBD being_VBG asked_VVN to_TO0 throw_VVI in_PRP celebration_NN1 what_DTQ her_DPS ancestors_NN2 were_VBD forced_VVN to_TO0 pick_VVI in_PRP slavery_NN1 ._SENT 
There_EX0 are_VBB some_DT0 of_PRF you_PNP who_PNQ may_VM0 read_VVI that_DT0 and_CJC have_VHB your_DPS jaw_NN1 drop_NN1 at_PRP how_AVQ painful_AJ0 ,_PUN triggering_VVG ,_PUN and_CJC emotional_AJ0 that_CJT must_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN for_PRP Kay_NP0 ._SENT Perhaps_AV0 you_PNP instantly_AV0 knew_VVD ,_PUN before_CJS you_PNP even_AV0 read_VVB it_PNP ,_PUN that_CJT the_AT0 bag_NN1 was_VBD filled_VVN with_PRP cotton_NN1 ._SENT You_PNP will_VM0 empathize_VVI with_PRP her_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC if_CJS you_PNP are_VBB Black_AJ0 ,_PUN it_PNP will_VM0 undoubtedly_AV0 remind_VVI you_PNP of_PRF similar_AJ0 stories_NN2 in_PRP your_DPS own_DT0 life_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 lives_NN2 of_PRF your_DPS friends_NN2 and_CJC family_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 are_VBB also_AV0 some_DT0 of_PRF you_PNP who_PNQ may_VM0 read_VVI that_DT0 and_CJC wonder_VVB what_DTQ the_AT0 hell_NN1 the_AT0 big_AJ0 deal_NN1 was_VBD ._SENT Of_PRF course_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 bride_NN1 and_CJC groom_NN1 did_VDD n't_XX0 choose_VVI cotton_NN1 for_PRP its_DPS implications_NN2 of_PRF slavery_NN1 !_SENT You_PNP will_VM0 not_XX0 only_AV0 be_VBI confused_VVN by_PRP Kay_NP0 's_POS reaction_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC you_PNP will_VM0 be_VBI frustrated_VVN by_PRP it_PNP and_CJC feel_VVB that_CJT it_PNP is_VBZ irrational_AJ0 ._SENT I_PNP get_VVB both_DT0 reactions_NN2 ,_PUN because_CJS our_DPS initial_AJ0 reaction_NN1 to_PRP our_DPS dear_AJ0 friend_NN1 was_VBD the_AT0 latter_DT0 ,_PUN and_CJC unfortunately_AV0 it_PNP took_VVD us_PNP way_NN1 too_AV0 damn_AV0 long_AJ0 to_TO0 get_VVI to_PRP the_AT0 former_DT0 ._SENT 
Later_AV0 that_DT0 night_NN1 when_CJS Kay_NP0 shared_VVD her_DPS raw_AJ0 feelings_NN2 and_CJC her_DPS experience_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 wedding_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 pain_NN1 around_PRP the_AT0 cotton_NN1 ,_PUN instead_AV0 of_PRF listening_VVG ,_PUN empathizing_VVG ,_PUN and_CJC honoring_VVG her_PNP ,_PUN as_CJS a_AT0 group_NN1 we_PNP downplayed_VVD the_AT0 whole_AJ0 situation_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC in_PRP doing_VDG so_AV0 ,_PUN we_PNP downplayed_VVD her_DPS feelings_NN2 and_CJC really_AV0 her_DPS humanity_NN1 ._SENT We_PNP bypassed_VVD her_DPS pain_NN1 and_CJC came_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 defense_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 couple_NN1 ,_PUN imploring_VVG her_PNP to_TO0 know_VVI that_CJT they_PNP were_VBD good_AJ0 people_NN0 and_CJC it_PNP had_VHD nothing_PNI to_TO0 do_VDI with_PRP race_NN1 ._SENT She_PNP felt_VVD abandoned_VVN and_CJC told_VVD us_PNP that_CJT she_PNP did_VDD not_XX0 feel_VVI seen_VVN by_PRP us_PNP ._SENT With_PRP the_AT0 intention_NN1 of_PRF being_VBG a_AT0 "_PUQ peacemaker_NN1 "_PUQ and_CJC bringing_VVG "_PUQ unity_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ I_PNP responded_VVD to_PRP Kay_NP0 's_POS pain_NN1 by_PRP telling_VVG her_PNP that_CJT when_CJS I_PNP look_VVB at_PRP her_PNP ,_PUN I_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 see_VVI a_AT0 Black_AJ0 woman_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP just_AV0 see_VVB my_DPS friend_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 see_VVI color_NN1 ;_PUN I_PNP see_VVB her_DPS heart_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP other_AJ0 words_NN2 ,_PUN I_PNP made_VVD her_DPS exact_AJ0 point_NN1 ._SENT 
As_CJS a_AT0 white_AJ0 person_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP was_VBD taught_VVN to_TO0 say_VVI that_CJT we_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 see_VVI color_NN1 ,_PUN that_CJT we_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 see_VVI our_DPS differences_NN2 ,_PUN that_CJT we_PNP treat_VVB everyone_PNI equally_AV0 ._SENT While_CJS this_DT0 concept_NN1 of_PRF color_NN1 blindness_NN1 initially_AV0 sounds_VVZ very_AV0 nice_AJ0 and_CJC idealistic_AJ0 to_PRP white_AJ0 people_NN0 ,_PUN it_PNP not_XX0 only_AV0 ignores_VVZ the_AT0 socialization_NN1 and_CJC foundation_NN1 on_PRP which_DTQ the_AT0 United_NP0 States_NP0 was_VBD built_VVN ,_PUN it_PNP also_AV0 ignores_VVZ the_AT0 very_AV0 rich_AJ0 ,_PUN beautiful_AJ0 cultures_NN2 and_CJC humanity_NN1 of_PRF people_NN0 of_PRF color_NN1 ._SENT 
