I thought I’d do a short discussion and demonstration about Intent and why it will never be more important nor should it be prioritized over the impact of one’s words, actions and behaviors.

Intent Does Not Negate The Impact http://johnniejae.com/intent-does-not-negate-the-impact/

If you really don't want to watch the video but want a hands on experiment:
Grab a piece of paper. Crumple it up. Now, you're doing this on purpose but how many times have you accidently spilled something on an important paper, tore it or heck even lost it.

Now, straighten it out. It's no longer smooth. It's damaged and not just on a surface level, but beneath the surface....fibers are torn and that piece of paper forever changed.

Now, tell that piece of paper that you're sorry and that it wasn't your intent. What happens?

Nothing. Nothing has changed. The paper is still crumpled and damaged. Your intent doesn't change or undo the harm you caused.

This is why intent should never be prioritized over the impact of your words, actions, and behaviors. It doesn't change or undo the harm you caused.

It also doesn't mean that you are a bad person, it's possible to engage in racist or oppressive/harmful behaviors without realizing it because it has all been so normalized that it's often invisible or the way it's always been until it's pointed out to us.

This is why it's important that when it's pointed out, you take you and your ego out of it because it is when it is pointed out that you decide and make a choice as to what kind of person you will be and will be viewed as.

Will you be a person who made a mistake, who apologizes and genuinely wants to do and be better or will you decide to willfully be racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, classist, and hateful A-hole?

The choice is yours, so it is important to always remember that Intent does not negate the important.