We All Have a Responsibility to Educate Ourselves

This onus is not on the intentionally ignored to educate you on their experiences and hardship. No one owes you a conversation about race, gender, sexuality, ability, neurodiversity, or any other topic associated with groups and identities that have historically had less privilege and power. Expecting those that have been "othered" to teach you about themselves further reinforces the systems of power that have created discrimination and inequities while likely adding to the harm and trauma that these groups have already experienced.

So, what should you do instead? The first step is to educate yourself. Prioritize time to learn about the experiences and hardships that people have experienced as a result of White dominant culture. Consume content created by people that have been intentionally ignored in society. Read their books. Listen to their podcasts. Watch their videos. Follow them on social media. Spend some time taking inventory of the privilege that you possess. Where do you fall on the Wheel of Privilege and Power (found to the left)? Think about how these privileges have led to opportunities in your own life. Go one step further and begin to think about how you can use your won privilege to support and empower those that do not possess the same privilege.

WtC has curated content created by various groups that have been intentionally ignored and organized it into resource pages. You can use these to find content to better your understanding on anti-racism and anti-discrimination.