a lot of my white friends have reposted pretty art tributes and blasted all their socials with the various hashtags associated with the recent murder and harassment of black folks at the hands of fellow white folks. this, to me, feels lazy and insufficient.

i also know that there is nothing i can say on this website, or any other platform, that will bring justice or peace to the black community. but at the end of the day, as a white woman, i have a responsibility to speak out against flagrant racism and injustice.

so to my black friends and followers: i promise to always treat you with respect and dignity, to never weaponize my tears against you, to have your back in public and in private - fully and unashamedly.

i promise to continually educate myself about my privilege and my role in systemic oppression. i promise to listen with open ears and an open heart when you critique my behavior or the behavior of other white folks. to not be afraid to call out the behavior of those i love.

i promise to use my voice to amplify yours in spaces where you have not been given a chance to speak, and to stand by as a quiet ally when you are given a chance to speak. i promise to do all i can, every day, to make sure you don’t become a hashtag.

i can’t change the world for you, but i can change myself. time to go to work.

ps- to any of my white friends/followers reading this who think this thread is “odd,” “a bit much,” or “liberal bullshit” - i implore you to think about why a list of ways i intend to treat black people with respect makes you feel uncomfortable.