In some of the comments people express a feeling of futility about how to improve the situation. Spending time with my African American neighbors collecting oral history and helping at an historic community center has been very enriching. To me, listening is a political act. It helps me to relate better to my students and to appreciate my neighbors. I’m not afraid to discuss race or the toxic impacts of racism — not because I have all the answers, but because these topics are so important to me for the sake of my students and my children.