Curious to Hear More of Your Perspective

A random DM I received recently from a White guy I don't know and with whom I have had no previous interaction:

"Must not get much sleep with all that White guilt."

I've said many times that what puts off White people from doing antiracism and social justice work is their inability to absorb criticism.

Because we haven't faced direct systemic oppression, marginalization, and discrimination due to our skin color, we don't have the same lived experiences as someone who has, and therefore our ability to sustain our commitment may not be as strong.

We get derailed too easily. We get distracted too easily. We take things personally too easily. We center ourselves too often and too easily. We lose perspective too easily.

We forget that this work is not about us and our feelings. We forget that whatever resentment, criticism, aggression, gaslighting we receive is exactly what people of color receive. . .

ALL. THE. TIME.

So next time a White person tries to intimidate you and derail your efforts, remember you have a choice how to respond.

You're welcome to use my response:

"Thanks for reaching out. Curious to hear more of your perspective."

And then continue with the work.

And, no, he has not shared more of his perspective. As expected.

Good thing I didn't consider it too seriously.