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My latest poem, “A Friendship Lost,” explores how even the strongest connections can fracture under the weight of a difficult conversation about racism.

What begins as curiosity — “Have you ever experienced racism?” — slowly unravels into discomfort, fragility, and silence.

It’s a deeply personal reflection on how love and friendship can be tested when empathy gives way to defensiveness. The poem asks:
What happens when someone’s need to be heard meets another’s inability to listen?

Even as an expert in the field of anti-racism, I’ve learned how hard it can be to stay emotionally regulated in those moments — to hold space for discomfort without letting hurt take over. These conversations ask us to balance compassion with truth, even when the cost feels deeply personal.

💭 Sometimes, it isn’t hate that ends a friendship — it’s discomfort that goes unexamined.

👉 Read The Poem “A Friendship Lost” .

https://www.sixstagesframework.com/zg9l

Read the article analysing the poem on my website

www.sixstagesframework.com

Listen to the podcast

https://youtu.be/2x2gjad9TxI?si=l1pyn-S08D4fb1Iz
What do you think helps us keep the door open when conversations on race get hard?

#Racism #AntiRacism #WhiteFragility #Empathy #Inclusion #SixStagesFramework #EmotionalIntelligence #Equity #SocialJustice #ConversationsThatMatter #Relationships