Holding racist white people accountable for their actions and forcing them to deal with the consequences of their behavior is not retributive. Losing your job is not the same as losing your life. Going to jail is not the same as death. It does not equalize the offense.

Racist white people who are held to an anti-racist standard put forth by friends, family, or corporate policy are *not* receiving retributive justice. They are dealing with the natural consequences of violated the values of their peers.

Living in a place like the U. S., it is really difficult to separate consequences from punishment because we conflate those terms to justify retributive behaviors. But I promise you, dealing with natural consequences is not the same as punishment.

I struggle with Mr. Cooper not wanting Ms. Cooper to face her natural consequences-- of course he has the right to feel sympathy for a person who wronged him and frame his restoration based on what will make him whole-- but not facing consequence does not make one whole.

I don't know enough about restorative justice to go further than this... I'm still learning. Let this thread serve as a place to store info that I discover on my journey. Please enlighten me if you feel so inclined.