On Wednesday night, we were walking down to the East End Beach and noticed a white man cracking a whip.

We’re pretty sure he doesn’t run a livery stable. We’re also sure he scared a group of African-American kids, and older women in hijabs who were walking up the hill.

“Don’t go over there, man, he’ll hit you with that,” one of the boys said, while one of the older girls explained how whips were used to terrify slaves.

As a 10-year-old girl, I wonder: Why would anybody want to do something that reminded people of slavery?

As that girl’s father, I wonder: Is she too young to begin the conversation about white privilege? Nope.

Bill and Willa Burns

Portland