Race is one of those subjects that can be uncomfortable to talk about but that discomfort can also be where meaningful conversations begin. From a white man’s perspective, there can be a temptation to think of race simply as a matter of appearance or a label. But identity is much more complicated than that. “Black” can describe a racial identity shared by people across the world, while “African American” is a more specific cultural and historical identity rooted in the United States and the experiences of Black Americans whose history is deeply connected to slavery, segregation, discrimination, migration, community, resilience, and generations of American life. And perhaps the most important part of the conversation is recognizing that, you don't have to personally experience something to acknowledge that it exists. Being willing to listen is different from claiming to understand everything. Being aware of privilege is different from being made to feel guilty for who you are. And ...