I believe an essential step toward racial healing and reconciliation is the start of an honest conversation. Note that I said start; because there is no way we can overcome centuries of conflict on the issue of systemic racism through a single "drive-by" conversation. The weight of this issue requires full engagement toward change. Authentic conversations have the power to peel back the layers of hurt and pain in one's life, to clear away the historical harm that has calcified through avoidance and neglect. I am not talking about speaking at or over one another, but truly listening with the goal of understanding each other's perspectives.