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Using White Imagination

A mystical path toward empathy

Jeffrey Kass
3 min readMar 10, 2023
Image: Shutterstock/Mimma Key

For this piece, I need you to turn on that magical imagination part of your brain.

You know, the one you used as a kid. The one that transformed you into a superhero. Created imaginary friends. Let you pretend you were camping, when really you just took bed sheets and made massive tents in your parents’ living room.

Let’s go to another imaginary world.

Only this time, we’re going to head to a planet where every time you get in your car, you pray you don’t get pulled over. Or when you’re late to something, you’re too scared to speed.

Imagine that many times when you go shopping in a department store in this pretend world, security guards follow you or employees stare at you with suspicion.

What if you transported to a place where people crossed the street when they saw you walking in their direction?

Try to imagine going to work, only to have other people get credit for ideas you suggested first.

What if at least once a week you were in a place where someone you interacted with was nervous or otherwise exhibited fears about you?

Think about living in a world where you’re mistaken for someone else at least once a week.

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Jeffrey Kass
Jeffrey Kass

Written by Jeffrey Kass

A Medium Top Writer on Racism, Diversity, Education, History and Parenting | Speaker | Award-Winning Author | Latest Book: Black Batwoman V. White Jesus | Dad

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