Good response, Elizabeth. I agree that some of what Gina discusses is more likely a matter of class, not race. The fact is that disparate outcomes between racial groups doesn’t automatically equate to racism, and it doesn’t make America a racist society.

Yes there may be unintended interpersonal bias that drives the disparities in how some educators discipline their students, but it’s not helpful to make it an issue of “white privilege.” For one thing, race doesn’t have an absolute bearing on outcome. For another, it assigns unnecessary guilt to white people as a whole. For still another, it builds unfounded resentment against white people in general. The numerous racist articles on Medium against white people by non-white writers are just one mild effect of that resentment.

To Gina I say this: you mean well, I understand that. But your arguments come off as unnecessary self-criticism on the basis of your race. I suggest, for your sake, that you reconsider your embrace of that.