Where to start?

Listening is what where we need to start.
1. Listen deeply to the hurt and the pain.
(If you don't personally know a person of color a first step could be Twitter. )
2. Be vulnerable and admit that you don't understand.
3. Do the work to understand better in a way that works for you.
As a historian I thought I knew a lot about history but the stories of African American history were buried. I'm still on a journey to understand but the eight years I've spent reading, studying, researching, listening and engaging in conversation has helped me to put into context the generational trauma that people of color live under every day.
4. Speak up. Once you are informed you have evidence on your side and that gives you the confidence to defend your position - structural racism exists, white privilege exists. These are facts that are easily twisted into opinions if you don't have confidence.
5. Listen with humility. You don't know. You haven't lived it. Your research and reading have opened a door for you but you don't own this so be a listener.
6. Find commonality through personal stories. Build connections with others around our humanity.
7. Speak up - even if it means you will lose friends. Were they worth your friendship anyway if they refuse to admit their own bias and role in supporting the racism that keeps others oppressed?

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