This essay is about "good white people". Inevitably, there are good white people in the comments completely missing the author's point, reacting in precisely the ways that the author outlines. I can't think of a more apt place to discuss this issue.

Reading this thoughtful piece by a WOC about how white peeps bragging about their ally status is upsetting left you concerned for your personal feelings as a status is exactly what is wrong with "good white people."

"What I keep seeing though is this notion of "keep out of it, it's not your business, it's not a white issue" and I simply can't rectify that with what I see as an everyone issue."

You're entire posting is a request for awards for being a good white person.

Again, it's not about white people's intentions. Think of it this way; if you were trying to explain misogyny to a man and he kept interrupting you to explain how nonsexist he was, saying #notallmenz. That's what "good white people" do to black people. That's what you did in reaction to this excellent and extremely…

"The fact that you managed to be offended by this piece is a testament to just how much you don't get it"

I understand your dilemma I really do but I, as a young hispanic woman, do not need to explain to you, a privileged white woman, what to do "better". It's not the job of the oppresed to change the mind of the oppressor. I'm not saying you are an active oppressor but it really is not my job to tell you how to be a…

"I studied African American people in college" is similar to "I have lots of black friends?" God damn!

WHERE IS MY COOKIE?!

the implication is that these spoken words of support should not be construed/assumed as a self-aggrandizement when they've not been thought-of, or even couched as such.

I think you'll find the "Good White Person" of this essay is much like the "Nice Guy".

It's a valid point, but on the other hand we are all part of the system - members of a society which allows institutional racism to exist. We are all part of the problem, regardles of whether we show empathy or not.

I think that is the point. Expressing empathy or agreement is not the same thing as accepting responsibility for privilege and doing something to actively combat injustice. As a "good white person," I am guilty of this myself. I don't know what to do about it, but the author makes a good point.

YES. Sometimes expressing empathy means lifting the voices of the silenced. Sometimes expressing solidarity is best done by boosting the signals society seems fit to ignore. Each to their abilities and resources - and this commenter has the resource of priviliege. Being asked to use it thoughtfully is not being told…

I'm not part of that us (apologies if that's not what you meant). I don't think that's what's being discussed here. The underlying point of the article is that even good white people with good intentions end up taking away the focus from the very real, very dangerous issues affecting black people. That is demonstrated…

I think you may have missed the point: "good white people" are those who believe their good intentions trump the effects of their biases on black people's experiences. You are being defensive and seem to be asking for credit for not being consciously racist.

But every single thing you've posted has done nothing except try to make this about you and your contributions to good whiteness. I mean that in the royal sense too. And, yes, I would've said the same things to all of those people, because the death of Matthew Shepard was not about straight people. It's not that hard…

Thank God for commenters like you who can say the thing that's in my head but take out all the swearing and make it into real words

You have some work to do. If you think kindness is the limit of what is needed to stop mass death of Black teenagers, you have some work to do. If you think the primary meaning of this essay was that you should apologize for something, or was even about white people, you have some work to do. If you don't understand…