First, let’s talk about the tone of the article, which I suspect is what fired up a lot of people. Fisher’s frustration and anger is palpable. But it is also reasonable and understandable given the racial and patriarchal oppression prevalent in our society—ideological forces that Dickinson is not immune to as part of wider US culture. As James Baldwin said, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” If you haven’t read any Baldwin, you should; it remains as relevant as ever. Sometimes what someone says is more important than how they say it. This is one of those times. If you wrote a response to Fisher criticizing her tone, you’re missing the point of her article. Ironically, some of those missing her point also provided ample evidence to support it.

Then again, rants do have rhetorical merit. For those who have had experiences similar to Fisher’s, reading her piece was probably cathartic and likely helped give voice to feelings they may not have found the words for yet. And when you’re part of a group that is routinely rendered voiceless by your society, people almost never listen to you until you shout, scream, and cry. Then when you do, people tell you to watch your tone. Surely you can imagine how infuriating that must be and what an injustice that is? If we can be a little less fragile, and humble ourselves enough to consider the experiences of someone else—especially when that someone is part of a group that our society systemically and routinely marginalizes—this sort of writing can be profoundly instructive.

Some have also commented that “if the roles were reversed…” they would be roundly condemned for writing such an article. And, yes, they would be. But the roles aren’t reversed, are they? Once we factor in context and power dynamics, it is easy to see that a hypothetical reversal of the relevant power dynamic is no justification for condemning Fisher’s piece. White people have not experienced centuries of institutional, systemic, and aversive racism. Our society does not implicitly and explicitly signal to white people on a regular basis that our lives do not matter. Men are negatively affected by the patriarchy, but not in the same ways as other genders, and they reap many privileges from it that other genders do not. And white men and white women have never had to navigate the sometimes conflicting and always damaging effects of being oppressed by racism and sexism simultaneously. Because we are in privileged, dominant positions, speaking in generalizations about other races would amount to racism. When people who are not in dominant positions speak out about the injustices they are experiencing, it does not threaten our positions of power and it does not contribute to an overarching, systemic, racist ideology oppressing us… because there is none.

Now, if you have not participated in the injustices Fisher outlines, you do not need to take her article personally. But, and this is a big “but,” I would argue it is essential to our humanity that we carefully examine how we have been complicit in oppressing those around us by either participating unwittingly or by allowing oppression, inequality, and injustice to persist even when we notice it (e.g. Did you speak up when the KKK distributed flyers around Carlisle?). Fisher is speaking in generalizations, but she is also speaking of her own experiences among white males, some of whom tend to drown out, interrupt, dismiss, and generally marginalize voices different from their own. I’m familiar with this phenomenon and have experienced it myself as a woman. The idea that what Fisher describes is a genuine, repeated, and pervasive experience that many women and minorities can relate to should concern you. Not for your own sake, but for theirs.

If you are a white male who hasn’t behaved that way, that’s nice. If you think you may have behaved that way, before defending yourself and interjecting “not all men!” this is an important moment to reflect. And the problem isn’t just when people from marginalized groups are interrupted or their ideas are shot down. It is also when people from dominant groups fail to make space for their voices by monopolizing conversations. As a white woman, this has happened to me repeatedly in male dominated spaces. But I will also own the fact that at times I have inadvertently monopolized conversations in groups where I should have sat down, been quiet, and done more listening, even when I thought I disagreed. I was very fortunate to study and move among people who were exceedingly patient with me while I learned how to temper my enthusiasm and humble myself enough to both listen more and to actively try to create spaces for people different from me to speak. Was it challenging at times to accept that I had made the mistake of effectively silencing others when that was not my intention? Of course, but it was also a transformative learning experience that I am very grateful to have had. If you can put your ego aside for a moment, reread Fisher’s article and see if there is anything you can learn from her. It may end up being one of the most valuable lessons you’ll ever learn. I want to encourage you to take a moment and sit with your discomfort because I promise you it pales in comparison to the discomfort people of color sit with on a daily basis in our society.

Dickinson’s motto is “Pietate et doctrina tuta,” (Freedom is made safe through character and learning). Fisher is presenting us with another opportunity to learn and to hone our characters.

To Fisher: I see you and I stand with you. I didn’t read your article as an example of racism. I took it to be righteous indignation in the face of systemic oppression. And I’m proud of you for having the bravery to use your voice and speak your truth.