Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

The Introduction addresses White readers, inviting them to engage in difficult conversations about race and racism in the US. Acho presents himself as a friend who offers honest answers to uncomfortable questions.

Acho describes his childhood experiences navigating between Whiteness and Blackness, contrasting the White American culture of his suburban Dallas neighborhood with the Nigerian upbringing he received at home. Acho experienced racism at a young age: Some classmates told him he didn’t sound and dress like a Black person, while others called him an Oreo (Black outside, White inside). His time at the University of Texas opened his eyes to what it means to be a Black man in America. He realized that expressions of Blackness were varied—knowledge reinforced by his time in the NFL.

Acho argues that the longest-lasting pandemic in the US is not the COVID-19 pandemic, but racism. He urges America to pursue a cure for racism with as much determination as it has a vaccine for COVID. He believes that conversations grounded in mutual trust and respect are key to ending racism. Building relationships that help Black and White people recognize each other’s humanity is central to his project. His goal is to provide readers with a better understanding of race, to foster empathy, and to increase racial sensitivity.