Thread by @isierranichole

Yesterday, a White woman asked me what I do and I told her I advocate for women and women of Color and shared that as a woman of Color this is important for me. She said, you consider yourself a woman of color?”. I said, “Yes, I’m Latina with Brown skin”. (1)

She then told me that her pastor (from the pulpit) held a piece of white paper up to his face & said, “I’m not White, none of us are & Black people aren’t Black either. We’re all shades of tan & Brown so we are all people of color and there is only one race: the Human race.” (2)

She & another White guy proceeded to express their agreement with the pastors words. Myself, & a Black woman (a mutual friend of all of us who was nearby) made eye contact & said nothing. Our silence must have been deafening. The White woman noticed & said, “you disagree?” (3)

I took a breath and stammered, “well, y-yes I do”. This White woman got an earful on why this pastors words are ignorant and harmful. Why his words erase People of Color and have White (though he wouldn’t say White) as the default. (4)

My Black friend interjected a few times but mostly tuned out to focus on the work she was doing. I could tell that the White woman didn’t really understand what I was saying and didn’t really care - because her world is very very White and very privileged. (5)

I haven’t felt that nervous about talking about race in a while. I felt small and misunderstood- like I was making up stuff. But, I wasn’t and I knew it and so did my friend. But, it was hard being the first POC to push back on her ideas about skin and race.
(6)

Trying to explain why “I don’t see Color” to a White person is so hard - especially when that White person is very privileged. But, if nothing else, I hope I planted some seeds and got her thinking. (7)

I also told her if she really wanted to learn that she should find @andrehenry @thearmchaircom @LatashaMorrison and @KaitlinCurtice on Facebook and listen to their voices and be educated by them. (8)

I told her that she needs to listen to voices of Color from different ethnicities, cultures, and heritages and learn from them if she really wants to do and be better. (9)

Study questions:
1. Do you understand why the pastors example is harmful to POC?
2. What do you think POC hear when White folks say “I don’t see Color”?
3. As a White person, how are you educating your White friends/family on racism and racism inequality?

(10/end)

Bonus points if you go follow and learn from these POC w/out expecting a return follow: @mskathykhang @pastorgricel @pastor4Jesus @irenemcho @INESmcbryde @_karenjgonzalez @CisnerosCafe @HyattHerald @LisaDelay @AyanaLage @sandravanopstal @NaijaKiwiJen @HappySonship @aaaldape

And @mikeets14 @austinchanning @itsovalle @chaotic_heretic @42nagirl @KhristiLauren @z_thompson21 @RevSarahAlmanza @nehaanna1925 @pastormontmc @janetri @jchris831241 @DeirdreJonese @MarlenaGraves @aliciatcrosby @LovesMercy @VidadeNoemi @IBTJ365 @julianygonzalez @CamiSpeaks

And: @ASISTASJOURNEY @queeniebbella @laurencita22 @AliaJoyH @Lauren_G18 @adaeze_nwankwo @qyard08 @Lina_Guerrero27 @SheHasWords @Lisalovelyxo1 @drmichellereyes @mattps139 @BrandiNico @3Kids4e @RayshawnJohn @helloiamGio @WilliamMatt22