Finally, discussion about race

It has been exhausting, but the change seems to have come because, possibly for the first time in the history of the United States, there is more than talking about race. There is discussion. There is a difference.

And, for bringing about the discussion, the country owes a debt of gratitude to those who casting aside fears, spoke up. A thank you to teachers and students, and the major television news stations, reporters and the Public Broadcasting System for laying it all out there. I send a thank you to historians and researchers who brought discussion into the public arena, thank you to politicians who stood up and lawyers who took on the challenges.

The yelling was/is important, too, but may the discussion continue until it is exhausted.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge those who lost their lives bringing the discussion about. Their lives were not in vain.

This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 7:13 AM with the headline "Finally, discussion about race."