So I want to discuss something super complicated that I have a lot of feelings about and I hope that everyone can discuss this with an open heart and mind without malice.

I want to talk about White Assimilation and the myth of the model minority.

Lets start with the facts:
- I am a Mexican-American woman who is half white and 100% white passing in the region of which I reside.
- I was kept from my cultural heritage by my family intentionally.

I understand that people are upset by the idea/myth of the model minority. They are not wrong. Even as a white passing minority who spent half of her life surrounded by white people, I knew I was never fully accepted as "one of them" and that I never would be.

The facts are, the concept of a model minority is harmful, however, that doesn't change the fact that many white people could still be exhibiting a "model minority bias" toward folks like myself, which perpetuates harmful practices like COLORISM.

I benefit from not just white people, but ALL PEOPLE having a subconscious bias in favor of light skinned people. People want to hire me for projects because I am seen as "one of the good ones" provided that I continue to fall in line and never challenge them.

It's important that we acknowledge the demands of white assimilation and how that impacts the way people are treated. Do they "act" white enough? Are they "speaking english" all the time?

I acknowledge that I benefit from my parents forcing white assimilation on me.

It can be true that being a model minority is a myth because of the simple fact that every white person has a different idea of where the finish line is and they LOVE to move that finish line, while at the same time, the stereotype can inflict harmful biases in our society.

I benefit from being light skinned. I benefit from speaking English as a first language. I benefit from being born in an 85% white county in a 69% white state where I pass as a white person. I am exposed to and understand their culture. I benefit from all of that.

It doesn't make me a "model minority" but it also doesn't erase the fact that I controlled 0 of those factors and neither does anyone else. We all need to make a collective effort to fight anti-Blackness and colorism together.

I'm learning more every day and and I am committed to doing better, starting first by being a better listener. I acknowledge my privileges and the power that comes with those privileges.

I owe it to my community to use those responsibly. I hope we can all have more nuanced discussions and I know twitter isn't always the best place for it, but it is the place where I have the most reach and the most opportunity to make a difference.