support Sanders, I also fully support your points.

I don't want to feed and water angry white bigots. Not in the least. And, as a left-of-center woman from the poor working class, I fully understand the alienation you describe. In my angrier moments, I'd say the same. I'm not always angry, though.

I've paid close attention to those around me when it comes to bigotry of all kinds. I've seen how the national conversation feeds that bigotry. My family includes PoC and an LGBT individual, and I feel like I'm always on guard at their backs. I've seen how some of it is triggered. I sure as hell don't want to perpetuate that.

I had a conversation last week with a couple of white men that went like this:

"So what class are you taking next term?" (As a teacher, I have to constantly take graduate level classes to keep my license current; I've been taking classes towards another masters degree.)

"African American History."

That unleashed the two men whose voices immediately got loud, both talking over each other, and drowning me out, to make their points. So I just listened. When they finally stopped, assuming they'd made their points, I said,

"Wow. You guys sure feel strongly about this. You were yelling at me. It makes me uncomfortable."

Their energy immediately lowered down, and they looked confused. They tried to argue about whether or not they were yelling, and I just waited. Since they could hear the level of their voices rising, they blushed and stumbled to a stop. So I continued, to one,

"I can see that affirmative action really upsets you. You know, one of the things I've learned, that I know, is that we understand that limiting the rights, liberties, and/or opportunities for many because a few might abuse those opportunities, is not what this country is about. We're supposed to be about protecting, not limiting. Really, how many white people do you really think are turned away from jobs in favor of PoC, relative to the PoC that are turned away because of their color?"

Feet shuffled, throats cleared, and no one made eye contact. So I kept going,

"How would YOU combat racism limiting opportunities? What is YOUR solution?" The answer? A gruff "I don't know." I told this man that I'd love to talk to him about this some more, should he come up with some other possibilities. Then I turned to the other guy and said something along the lines of:

"I see that African Americans standing up for themselves, demonstrating, and fighting for racial justice makes you angry. Just like some people were angry when women fought for the right to vote, when many of us have demonstrated against wars. It seems like, while you are saying you want equality, you are really afraid. If PoC are what you said, just people, you don't need to be afraid of them. You know, I agree with what you said. I agree that our nation, our society, our culture, should see people, not color, when it comes to rights, liberties, and opportunities, when it comes to social justice, although I personally find seeing many colors to be enriching. I'm not that fond of homogeneity. The bottom line, though, is that as long as social justice is meted out unequally, as long as PoC don't get the same justice as white men, we have to see color. If you think that we've achieved racial justice in this country, you're mistaken. I'll send you examples." This man said instantly, "I'm not afraid. But go ahead and send me your examples." Of course he's not afraid.

Finally, I said, "So, are you trying to say that there's nothing in African American history important enough to be studied since the end of the Civil War? Because I'm sure my class is going to be about a hell of a lot more than affirmative action."

Both men then acknowledged that it was a legitimate issue for study, and I told them I'd let them know how the class went. They said they'd like to hear, and we moved on.

I will be sure to let them know what the class is discussing. Simply preparing their soil, so to speak, for new seeds to be planted, so that when they encounter those seeds, they'll land on more fertile soil.

Now, if I'd said what I'd been thinking, not only would that conversation have been over very quickly, but it would have ended any future conversation before it began. I'd rather them listen a bit then circle the wagons.