"We're not talking enough about the fear that White folks hold as a result of race. I'm not talking about fear of...Black people. I'm talking about fear of one's own self, because you don't know how to have the conversation, because you feel shame about where you're located in that conversation, about how to locate yourself."
– Reverend angel Kyodo williams
Because you don't want to seem racist.
Because you don't want to be thought of as a bad person.
Because you don't want people to know you haven't paid attention to race and racism your entire life.
Because you don't know how to acknowledge and leverage your privilege.
Because you don't want to admit that you have very few relationships with Black folks.
Because you don't want to be seen as incompetent, ignorant, or indifferent.
Because you don't want to do the ongoing work.
Because you want someone to tell you the answers.
Because you want someone to wave a magic wand and make racism go away.
Because you want instant gratification.
Because you want to be seen as good and right and righteous and woke.
Because you think you can do this work without vulnerability, empathy, compassion, curiosity.
Because you don't know yourself, don't want to change, don't want to commit.
Because you might reveal your full humanity.