Sometimes when someone important says something that makes you feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at a wedding...you go outside and take pictures in the rain. Old people say covertly racist uninformed things...but to say something grounded in prejudice and misplaced nationalism, and then to have a whole room of people applaud in agreement, including the people nearest you...and you are the only person of color in the room at the time...it can become overwhelming. And you feel betrayed. It's frustrating to spend a day supposed to be about love and have one comment rooted in hatred seemingly supported by every person in the room (that the issue the comment was made about) doesn't even directly affect....especially when you are the one person in the room the issue does directly affect. Of course i didn't say anything. The day wasn't about me. It was about the happy couple. So i bit my tongue and went outside to cool down. I'm not one to bring up these kinds of situations like these on social media, but i felt it was...important. If you identify as an "ally" and you're wondering when the moments will come for you to show up and be a supportive ally to your friends of color...the reality is...those moments will be at the most inappropriate and seemingly random times. There's never an "appropriate time" to shake up the status quo. And all of us POC...we need you to be able to speak up for us in those moments where we are out numbered and may not feel safe to. Even if its just to have a one on one conversation with someone off to the side. Even if it's just by...not clapping in assumed agreement because everyone else is At the end of the day hesitant/reluctant approval...is still approval....you may know what you feel in your heart, but the people around you applauding with you may not. But everything happens for a reason i guess...cuz during that time i took to cool off i was able to capture these . . . . . #mylifematters #blacklivesmatter #417land #WOC #POC #microaggressions #covertprejudice (at Sparta, Missouri)
