Someone told my parenting group that their 13 year old nephew asked, "Is it wrong that I& #39;m thankful I& #39;m white?"

This is uncomfortable to hear but I was very encouraged. Here& #39;s why:

This white teen is empathizing with black pain, he sees color, he sees the inequality and injustice. He knows his white privilege.

What& #39;s important is what comes next.

Moving from guilt to anti racist action is the key step white people need to take, over and over again. So it& #39;s time to help this 13 year old take it so he can have this skill for the long fight against racial inequality.

Validate feelings. If you tell him he can& #39;t feel that way, he& #39;ll just feel it any way but never tell anyone. Silence will turn to resentment and eventually to weaponizing whiteness.

"You& #39;re not wrong to feel those feelings, but let me help you move through those feelings and then work together with you for anti racism. I feel those feelings too. Let& #39;s learn and grow together."