I’m going to say this again for those who somehow missed the first few times: interpreting the voices of Black and brown bodies requires making fully transparent your own position, especially if you aren’t Black or brown or some other marginalized identity. 1/

Just because you are of a different marginalized identity does not mean you “get” what Black or indigenous trauma is. It doesn’t mean that you can move unmarked as you analyze their voices for your own career. If Black and brown voices are named and marked within your writings 3/

So too should you be marked. The invisibility of whiteness and white passing (Ahmed) are violent and at times subversive practices. I have seen more than once white passing WoC put on that marginalized hat when it suited them and then usurped control/ space from Black ppl 4/

I have seen those same women center themselves in antiracist discussions without acknowledging their ability to uphold white supremacy for career advancement while simultaneously avoid being held accountable because they provide a palatable option/ version of antiracism 5/

But let me state it here clearly: it is not only not antiracism it is the active antithesis of antiracism and putting stock in those persons will result in more trauma and violence. As Perrault wrote about LRRH, sometimes a wolf doesn’t look like a wolf. 6/

So for those who actually want to do antiracist work, know that it will be frustrating, we’ll continue to make mistakes, and there will be more barriers than open doors. Now is the time to listen, especially if you’re white. Otherwise you run a distinct risk of reenacting 7/

Colonialist violence, white supremacist white centering, and claiming expert status of that which you are just now opening your eyes to. As Logic says, put your ego on the shelf, and (my version) know yourself. 8/