A Brief Thought on How We Should Respond

If my wife were to tell me that she doesn't feel loved by me, my response ought not to be to share anecdotal and empirical evidence with her, excusing my actions and thereby disproving the validity of her perception. To even attempt to do this is to actually verify that her perception, as it turns out, was accurate. Rather, my duty in such a situation is to listen to her concerns and work my hardest from this point forward to demonstrate my love to her in such a way that she might indeed know that it is real.

When my African American brothers and sisters (who I claim to love) tell me that they feel marginalized, oppressed, devalued and threatened by the larger culture of which I am a part, in the same way, it ought not to be my response to share anecdotal and empirical evidence with them, excusing our actions and thereby disproving the validity of their perception.  Rather, my duty in such a situation is to listen to their concerns and work my hardest from this point forward to demonstrate my love to them in such a way that they might indeed know that it is real.