I agree that people of color have many reasons to start from a default position of intrinsic distrust of whites. The concept I’m trying to get to here is what I call “provisional trust”. It would mean getting to where people of color would say to whites who join these struggles “You know perfectly well why it is difficult for us to trust any of you- but if you can/do this set of things/pass these tests/ we will trust you in the context of THIS situation. After that, we will step back, review what we have seen, and reach a judgment as to whether the trust can be extended or must be revoked”.

It’s not clear whether such a concept can be workable, but there needs to be some relationship between black and brown people in a leadership struggle they are leading and the whites who join that struggle that lies between “I promise to kiss your ass” and “I will always be on the verge of kicking your ass”.