One of the concepts that’s floated in Robin DiAngelo’s WHITE FRAGILITY is the concept of racial stamina, and how white people have none since they rarely have to grapple with racial issues and end up noping out of discussions fairly early.

I don’t think there are easy or pat answers to anything at all, but I do think that building up your tolerance to discussions on race is one absolute necessity.

Someone (not related to the instant discussion) asked once what it meant to “sit with discomfort” and this discussion that’s raging is just such a prime example.

There are people who are saying, “What do you mean, I might get criticized either way? That’s unpossible!”

What if you just sat with that discomfort instead of demanding that a group of people who really don’t have any control over you give you permission to do what you want?

What if you just sat there and recognized that you were uncomfortable? And that the discomfort wasn’t going away? And that you shouldn’t make OTHER people feel this discomfort instead of you?

That this discomfort is yours?

Maybe the thing you’re uncomfortable about is this: What if the world changes? What if publishing gets good at recognizing lazy stereotype? What if publishing starts clamoring for new and fresh voices?

What if you had to be in real competition with people who haven’t been given a fair shake?

How would you win THEN?

Maybe that’s what you’re uncomfortable about.