I hear you. I have a friend and colleague who is a Black, transgender writer here on Medium. He’s an editor with a publication I’m involved with also, and we chat casually a lot in a Slack workgroup.

In the weeks leading up to the inauguration, my friend was very worried about violence breaking out. I thought he was overreacting, although I didn’t tell him that. Privately, I just figured everything was going to be fine in the end. I did not see what was happening right in front of my nose.

My Black friend knew better.

I tell myself that at least I didn’t argue with him or dismiss his views publicly. But privately, maybe I’ve learned to pay more attention to his and other Black people’s experiences.