Thread by @keikoinboston

1. I just listened to a maddening interview with a white journalist who seemed to be advocating for different rules for women of color because we have a harder time than white people and should therefore be treated differently. 🤯

2. I understand that there are some women/people of color pushing this idea that we need to be treated with kid gloves because it’s exhausting to talk to people different from ourselves but come on, we don’t all think this way! 🤨

3. I don’t need/want white women speaking for me. I can speak for myself.

4. The last thing I want is to live in a world in which people feel the need to treat me differently from white folks because they’re so afraid I can’t handle being treated by perceived white American standards.

How about we all just treat everyone with kindness and grace?

5. What I do want is for people to be more culturally sensitive.

Americans should understand that as powerful as the United States is, the world is not Americocentric.

Wherever you live, learn about places beyond your little corner of this earth.

6. People should understand that they don’t know everything. The world doesn’t revolve around your perspective. They should be curious and open to learning from others, even—or perhaps especially—people they think have nothing to teach them.

7. People should understand that not everyone has the same communication style as them. How they communicate could be informed by family, culture, profession, age, mental health, or developmental ability. Meet them where they are.

aane.org/neurodiverse-e…

8. People should be flexible and able to make adjustments based on the individual in front of them and their whole self, not based on stereotypes and assumptions related to the color of their skin or their ethnic background.

9. Really, it’s not hard. Just be kind. Treat everyone like a human being with complex feelings. With a life beyond whatever one thing you’re discussing.

We don’t need special treatment based on race. We deserve individual treatment because we’re all unique.