Author Thomas Chatterton Williams is a unique and insightful voice of the American cultural landscape. Contributor at New York Times Magazine and author of Losing My Cool, Williams’ racial commentary emphasizes the need to transcend racial categories to help depolarize American racial life. In this conversation he and John Wood, Jr. discuss their biracial upbringings, talk about the meaning of “Blackness,” chat about antiracism as an ideology, the writings of Ibram Kendi and more. Learn about Braver Angels at www.braverangels.org Follow Twitter: @thomaschattwill @JohnRWoodJr @BraverAngelsFacebook: @BraverAngels
IG: @BraverAngels
‘Braver Angels really helped me to see the humanity in people from the other side’: One high schooler’s journey to better political conversations
06/18/2026
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A native of Boulder, Colorado, Mia didn’t know many Trump supporters—and she was nervous to engage with them. “I was like, ‘Don’t they hate women? Don’t they hate black people?’” she said. “That was my initial belief because that’s what I had heard about people who voted for Trump.” But she quickly realized she was wrong. During the first Braver Lens session, Mia was able to connect with conservatives in the group and recognize their points of commonality. “When we met, they showed their pictures, and explained their life stories, and I was able to see where our values overlap,” she said.
