By reflecting on my experience as a white male living in America, I do feel I have some related experiences to both the conversations with white people and growing up black in America videos. I understand what the older gentleman describes as being "attacked" from the perspectives of not being a minority and being a man. I do find myself consciously making sure I don't say anything that would be offensive. I was once accused of being racist when I asked a black couple if they wanted to know the price of green tea when they were looking for it on the menu after I said "yes we do have it" (worked at a cafe/bakery). I had no intention of thinking they could not pay for it, but I do understand why that was the message I gave off to the couple. These are things that many people from minority groups have to deal with on a daily basis. In this case, they thought I assumed they didn't have enough money to pay for it because they were black.
It does make me uneasy to have conversations about race because I do know that I benefit from white privilege in society. My best friend is black and I have witnessed acts of racism directed at him that I don't have to worry about ever. He was once denied entry into a bar and told it was because he didn't meet the dress code of pants and shoes. I had walked in before him and explained to the bouncer that I was wearing sneakers and jeans just like my friend. He then changed his position and said it was my friend's hoodie that denied him entry. My friend had worn it because it was a college football game day and it was an Ohio State hoodie, and we were in Columbus. I also had on a plain tee shirt that wasn't nice or formal. The bouncer admitted he was instructed for the most part to make it difficult for black men to enter the bar. I have witnessed far worse incidents involving the use of the N word and aggressive comments made toward my friend based on nothing but the color of his skin. These are things I know I don't have to worry about as a white man. I can walk the streets in society without worrying about being targeted. I don't have to worry about how people are perceiving me every moment of the day.
