That's good that you were able to achieve a home in a solid neighborhood.

That's good that you were able to achieve a home in a solid neighborhood. I'm still renting, and watching dreams of a family fade away in this new virus world.

I'm mixed race, NA. My best friend is mixed race, Asian. We both have health issues. Mine's chronic migraine (think terrible ice-pick headaches every day). It's been tough for both of us—in So Cal. I haven't experienced anti-black racism, but I am very familiar with health stigma. I have run into brutal medical problems as a young man, working 60-80 hours/week. The total lack of understanding I ran into was just shocking. The USA needs to do much better. You're not productive after 40 hours/week anyway. You're just hurting yourself.

That's messed up about the schools. There's no excuse for a teacher not helping a kid discover their potential. The fidgeting comment hits home for me because I've heard that myself. I have ADD. It's perfectly treatable (and treatment is super effective), but ignorant teachers in my own youth often said, "oh he fidgets and can't focus," and just left it at that. It's horrible. People with ADD are often gifted. It just takes a proper diagnosis and they're at the top. I can't imagine what it's like to run into something like that for a kid of color in America. Teachers are supposed to help kids, not bring them down.

This COVID-19 situation may present opportunities for change. We need to rediscover the value of looking out for one another, of kindness & compassion, as a society. There's too much greed and cruelty. I would like to think I'm not a pirate. An unemployed one, maybe. I've lost my job, and more than one family member to this virus. It's harmed my health and my career in ways I'm only starting to understand. Things are rough right now. I agree with your message. People are created equal. I can only imagine the untapped economic growth we will encounter when we break down the barriers of racism and have full opportunity for black innovators. If I had the power to snap a finger and change things, I would. I'm thinking we need to fix schools, forgive & elminate student debt, manage inequality, have universal healthcare, encourage more housing supply, and encourage understanding of bias and racism. And do all of that without growing the deficit.

I don't think I share your cynicism though. I think there is opportunity in this—a challenge. I have to hope things will get better.