Thread by @AjahsWrite

Dear white people who like to jump in PoCs mentions and share your well meaning yet ultimately inept and uninformed opinions about race:

Don't.

(Thread)

As a public service, I'm making this thread to serve as a quick guide to whether or not you're ready to talk about race in public.

Not saying this to be condescending, but when it comes to understanding race, privilege & power (RPP), most white people are like kindergarteners.

I get it. Y'all mostly don't talk about race until college. But PoCs grow up talking, thinking and learning about race everyday, so our RPP understanding falls somewhere between middle school and grad school. That's why conversations about RPP are so frustrating for all involved.

Imagine yourself as a college student. You're sitting in your room, talking on the phone with your friends about your crush. I think I'm in love! You say.

Suddenly, your 8-y/o sibling walks into your room. They've been listening at the door. They start to tell you what they love

I love pizza, I love ice cream! I love Mommy! I love you!

Awesome, but not relevant to the conversation you're already engaged in.

Are you mad at your sibling? Nope. Are you going to stop your conversation to explain what you meant to them? Nope.

One day, they'll understand.

This is the expectation white people should carry into online discussions about race initiated by PoCs

It is not your fault you're beneficiaries of a system that has allowed you to work half as hard & get twice as much as the PoCs around you. But it is your problem -- not ours.

People color are not required to teach white people about race, privilege and power.

We are not required to create space for your uninformed opinions, even online space.

We don't have to accommodate your ignorance. In fact, your ignorance is more dangerous than outright hatred.

So please, for Pete's sake, do not insert yourself into conversations about race if you haven't read Robin D'Angelo, Tim Wise, Peggy McIntosh, Ben Brucato, Jane Elliot or Howard Zinn. These are all white people who get paid to explain whiteness to y'all, so PoC's don't have to.

Here's some other things that indicate You're not ready to talk about RPP in an online public space:

- You don't see color and you think that the only way society will be fair is for everyone to become color blind.

- Using the phrase white supremacy makes you very uncomfortable

- You feel the need to say not all white people/not all men/not all white women

- You feel that people are always making things about race

- You believe in reverse racism

- You think black people can be racist too

- You know you're not racist because you have a black...👶🤶💑

- You think that people who obey the law don't have anything to fear from police

- You think that socioeconomics are what really divides us, not race

- Your ancestors didn't own slaves and weren't part of the problem

- You grew up poor so you don't believe in white privilege

- You feel the need to cite Jay Z, Oprah, Barack Obama, LeBron James or any other exceptional black person as an example of how far we've come

- You think slavery ended in 1865

- You think segregation ended in 1964

- You think affirmative action is unfair to white people.

This list is by no means comprehensive but I'm tired.

On behalf of all the other tired people of color who come on Twitter to find community, not to be smothered by the constant weight of your ignorance, If any of the things I mentioned apply to you,

Please go read a book📖.
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