Also just stop coming up with nicknames for people without their consent. This got so ingrained in me as a white-passing kid in a mostly white school that I hated my name for a time. And came up with a really whitewashed nickname to call myself. (1/4) https://twitter.com/thejaswilliams/status/1313493633711116289

I was told through people’s actions that I needed to be smaller, more manageable, easier to pronounce, easier to digest. So I did it to myself. I made my name literally smaller so it came out of white people’s mouths more easily. (2/4)

I grew out of that and stopped introducing myself with a shortened name. But my name is still a huge factor in my feeling of not completely belonging. I’m even feeling a little emotional writing this thread (3/4)

So pls. Just take 2 seconds of your time to ask how someone’s name is pronounced. And then try to get it right. It’s small, but it matters.