Yesterday, a Black student asked if we were in a race war. With a sigh but without hesitation, I answered: Well, it must be war. War is armed conflict between two parties. It must be war when we equip ourselves w/ words, knowledge, & strategy to survive - beginning in childhood. It must be war when bloodshed is expected and not exceptional. It must be war if hostages are taken - whether by ships in 1619 or mass incarceration today.