Think You’re an Ally to Black People? Don’t Be So Sure
Have you actually earned the title?
Earlier this week I came across a Twitter thread that sparked a sharp and painful gut reaction. Written by esteemed author and journalist Clint Smith III, the thread explained a racist incident Smith witnessed while in a Charlotte airport. After sharing the basics of the interaction, Smith went on to explain the horrible effect that hearing the n-word had on him that day, and how the slur harms Black minds and bodies in general.
The whole thread is noteworthy for Smith’s ability to explain the universal feelings of shame, pain, shock, anger, and helplessness ignited by direct racism. Reading it not only validates the experience of Black people the world over, but it also helps non-Black readers to understand what it feels like for Black people to hear the slur and the long-term consequences we are subjected to by living with this sort of racism.
As I read through Smith’s thread, one thing stood out to me, gnawing on my thoughts, and bothering me for days after. From the details…
