"In my search for an honest way to write about race, I wanted to comfort the afflicted, but more than that, I wanted to afflict the comfortable."
– Cathy Park Hong
If you have not read Hong's book, Minor Feelings, do yourself a favor and read it as soon as you can. Her perspectives on race and racism from an Asian American—and more specifically from a Korean American—perspective, are nuanced, vulnerable, and relevant to the racism discussion we need to be having.
For me, this passage is a both/and. Or more precisely, I believe that afflicting the comfortable is needed so that the afflicted can experience comfort more regularly.
Calling the comfortable into conversations about race and racism so that they are more aware of the myriad ways so many people are afflicted by racism.
Challenging the comfortable so that they show up more consistently and authentically for those who are affiliated by racism.
Supporting (not coddling!) the comfortable so that they have perspectives, strategies, and mindsets they can use to drive impact and affect change in their spheres of influence.
Helping the comfortable be more comfortable talking about race and racism so that the people who are afflicted by racism experience less racist affliction at the hands of the comfortable.