[JohnnyB]

One of the most positive things that I think can come out of this moment in time is for more people to learn to understand racism beyond mere bigotry. Most people still seem to think of racism as just that, the acts or dispositions of bigoted people, and yet that's actually a really limiting viewpoint in advancing discussions that enable understanding of racism.

The change in thinking that results from seeing that racism is not merely about individual bigotry may actually be empowering for people who are not bigoted and yet feel threatened by the current conversations about racism because they feel there are personal implications of bigotry that strongly conflict with their personal values. More people can productively join the conversation when they understand that it's possible to have acted in a racist way without being bigoted, and that it is not necessarily a reflection of their personal values. It is easier to help with change when the defensive emotional barriers are lowered as a result of understanding the issue in a non-personal way.