Shoutout to people having respectful conversations with someone of a different background for the first time.
You do, in fact, sound as awkward as you think you do. Â More awkward, actually, because while this is your first conversation like this, it is definitely not the first time for the person youâre talking to, and they may be pretty tired of it. Â And youâre stumbling around not sure what words itâs okay for you to use, and whatâs okay to bring up, and you may not even be making much sense.
But itâs obvious that you see the person youâre talking to as a fellow person, worthy of respect. Â Itâs obvious that youâre trying to connect and find common ground. Â Youâre listening to what theyâre saying, and when you say something insulting (which you almost certainly will), you apologize and donât do it again.
Youâre nervous, and yes, itâs obvious that youâre nervous, but youâre still trying. Â And itâs okay. Â Youâll get better at this. Â This is only the first of many conversations like this, and as the novelty wears off, youâll get better and better at paying more attention to the conversation, and less attention to how you come across. Â After a while, this will just be a conversation like any other.
But first, you have to have this first conversation. Â Which youâre doing!