Oh wow... This is really good. I love the opening line, the Dad line about the police station being a tourist attraction, your poor sweet brother's tears. It's hard to lose those little stuffed animals we hold so dear. But especially the dawning of the realization of how racism slips by our notice sometimes, until we learn, and then, yes, we keep listening and learning. It's so important for us all to remain humble and open to learning, as hard as it is to ever feel that shame of being called out. But it's great Ms. Diaz could do so gently and in a way that resonated and stayed with you. Plus, the shame of that occurs because we do care so much and don't want to hurt anyone.

I had a funny moment reading this, when I got to the line about, what must it be like for Ms. Diaz in our school?, I had a knee jerk, wait why? Before I understood one second later that it must be a mostly white school. I went to school in San Antonio, and I think the population of my school was like 55% Hispanic/Latinx, 40% white, 3% Asian, and 2% Black students and staff. So, it was just funny for a quick second that through that lens, my sleepy brain went, but why? before I quickly understood and laughed at myself.

Anyway, this is wonderfully written, and I really enjoyed it.