Lakitha, thank you very much for your thoughtful comment. You are absolutely correct that I am not claiming innocence for white women. I am 100% behind calling out white women’s racism and even just bad behavior.

Much of my point was: what does “Karen” mean? There are so many implications attached that moniker at this point. Someone (another white woman) told me the other day that someone was being a “total Karen,” and it was really upsetting to her. I had to ask, “What did she DO?” I feel like with regards to racism, specifically, it is SO important to plainly call it out and to use that word. Otherwise, is it going to make an impact? If we say, “That woman is a Karen,” does that matter to people the same way it would/should matter if we say, “That woman is behaving in a racist way and this is not acceptable.” (I am speaking about how white people talk about “Karen” here, which is the only area I consider to be within my purview.)

Speaking of that, I also have realized, since writing this (I actually think about this article a lot, as I have worried that the timing might not have been respectful, though it was my attempt at tackling a current social issue while “staying in my lane”) that there was something I should have been clearer about, which is that it wasn’t a call-out to people of color who are using this term, but rather an observation of this phenomenon. I wish I had written an author’s note from the beginning to clarify that, and this finally inspired me to add one. I do not have any right to judge how a person of color responds to the systemic racism in this country.

White men, however, and in some cases other white women…my, how quickly they have weaponized this term. It is terrifying to me. And that’s who I ultimately wrote this to and about.

Your last paragraph was extremely eye-opening to me. I will continue to expand my knowledge about this.

Again, I want to thank you for your response. I truly appreciate the knowledge you shared with me.

Much love, Y