Tim Wise: To understand white denial about American history, consider two photos.

[Marthe48]

62. My family was racist

My Dad was overtly racist, my Mom didn't think she was, but she was. I don't know about my Mom's family, but my Dad's family, just cousins now, are racist. I have been doing genealogy research and by inference, it seems like I come from a long line of racists. My husband's dad was racist and I called him on that, once. My husband didn't realize his Mom was racist, and when he realized that, by something she said, he was stunned.

I didn't want to follow in their footsteps, and so I didn't. I had arguments with my Dad and discussions with my Mom, but I am not an activist. I have never lived where I can march or had the ability to go somewhere to demonstrate. Our kids do march, attend BLM and other civil rights events. I am troubled that I haven't ever done enough. Through my life, I've tried to set an example and I hope that helps.