This is a moment. This is THE moment. I must warn you first: if you are unwilling to practice radical listening and silence any impulse to say “but what about…,” this is not for you.

I am a biracial (black/white) Texan who grew up in a predominantly white community. I built my life around accomodation and apology. It was how I survived. It looked like this: do you need me to ignore that veiled racist comment? Okay, I’ll do that. Do you need me to ignore your microaggression against me and pretend it’s all good? Sure, I’ll do that too. I have given and given and given and the cost has been my sense of self and my belief in my worthiness. Who am I if I’m not the person who makes you feel comfortable in my presence? I was always in service of your comfort over mine.

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