African American

And I'm really sorry for that. I'm not apologizing for all the other white people (I don't have that right), but for myself.

I didn't start out in a place as ugly as that where Northam stood as a young man, but I was oblivious and ignorant enough at that age to not understand the significance of that photograph. I grew up in the 1950s, in Texas, and although I never heard any overtly racist views from my parents, they also never discussed issues of race. I was on my own to absorb them from the general culture.

I'm in my 60s now and I've learned so much, but every day I find that I still have a ways to go. Perhaps the best lesson I've learned is that when I'm faced with an issue such as Northam's sudden photo reveal, I need to listen before I speak. I had some initial opinions, but I didn't air them out on DU. Instead I came here (quite literally the AA Group) to listen and compare.

It's not anyone's responsibility to tutor me, and I would imagine that gets really tiresome (been there with explaining myself as a gay person), but it's really helped me learn. In the end, I hope that pays off for all of you.

More than anything, I really wish more white people would just stfu -- both on DU and elsewhere -- and listen.