That said, I think the only two things I’m qualified to judge are what white women need and what white people, male or female, are doing to anyone, white or any other race. As for other issues – for example, atrocities against women in the Middle East – I would be lying to say I can give any serious analysis of what’s going on or what the answer might be. So, for example, I can give meaningful analysis about the White House’s policy on not distributing condoms to Africa, but I don’t feel qualified to say what internal changes Africa should make to improve its own lot. I mean, I can form opinions, but I’m not the one who’d have to live with the results if they were implemented, and I can never have the experience of growing up there and having the understanding one develops by living the problem.

That’s just my approach. It may be wrong; I may even change my mind. That’s where I’m at now.

If that makes any sense.

Well…actually…I have to say I’m a little confused.

Are you saying that, to put it in my terms, you think white feminists are best off sticking to fighting against bad things that whites are doing to women (whether mostly to white women or only to women of color), or that you think white feminists are best off sticking to fighting against bad things that whites are doing to white women?

Which was embarrassing, but then I thought about it: can I ever hope to be expert about What’s Ailing People Who Aren’t Me? I can barely sort out my own problems. So maybe the more realistic solution is for me to focus on my expertise (i.e., the problems I’ve experienced firsthand) while giving nods to the problems I’m aware of other people experiencing and trying to somehow encourage them to share what life has taught them.

I waver between thinking it’s my job to champion others and thinking it’s entirely narcissistic and presumptuous to think I can. Right now, my approach is to stick to the issues I know firsthand and point out the ways in which I can see that issues affecting others are not being addressed by people like me. If that makes any sense.