I am a straight, white, able-bodied male. I completely agree with your article. My wife and I were recently walking thru the Fillmore in San Francisco when a black homeless man asked us for money to which I apologized and said I’m sorry but I don’t. He said, enjoy your white privilege. And the thing is, I don’t. I feel incredibly guilty. I am totally aware of my advantages and I’d say the biggest concern is knowing exactly how to help. What is the next step after awareness and an interest in fixing the problem? I actually think this is the sticking point for many people with an expressed or maybe even a hidden desire to change for the better. I know we can vote for candidates that run on a more politically ‘woke’ platform. I know we can volunteer and donate. But in a city like San Francisco where the issues are becoming less about white privilege and more about economic privilege how do we combat these deep-seeded issues?

Thanks for the column!