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4. Appointing someone as the spokesperson for their entire race
People of color often find themselves as "the only one in the room" among a white majority. This dynamic creates an environment in which they get asked questions about their entire race. In conversations during Black History Month, for example, all eyes are on the one black student. When there's a debate about immigration, the Latina of the group suddenly has to decide what's right for all immigrants.
The expectation placed on people of color to represent their race strips them of the individuality of their thoughts and feelings.
Asking one person about everyone who shares the same skin color wrongly assumes they all share the same story
Asking one person about everyone who shares the same skin color wrongly assumes they all share the same story, and puts people of color in a position where they have to take responsibility for the experiences of people they don't even know.
Additionally, people of color "who operate in white spaces have to protect white fragility in order to protect themselves," Imani tells Mashable, adding that to prevent hostility or to try to be inclusive, they "may be silenced or say things they may not necessarily agree with."
If you're curious about the experiences and thoughts of people of color, it's OK to ask and engage in conversation. But it's important to give people of color the space to have dynamic, unique stories rather than forcing them to provide a singular narrative they may not even identify with.
5. Discussing racial identity in binaries
In the U.S. we often think of race in a binary — black or white — but this largely ignores the nuances of how other people of color are treated. Grouping all races into the same group oversimplifies conversations about race, and ignores the different ways communities of color face discrimination.
Still, such unique attention often reduces identities to stereotypical assumptions. When Cepeda told someone she was Dominican, she tells Mashable they replied, "No, you're too light — you have to be Puerto Rican." Although it wasn't intended to be malicious, this person's comment failed to acknowledge diversity in racial identity.
You can't assume someone's ethnicity based on their skin color.
You can't assume someone's ethnicity based on their skin color.
Cepeda's experiences as a fair-skinned Dominican are likely different than those of an Afro-Latina Dominican, for example. When the two are conflated, both racial identities are marginalized, because neither experience is treated with the integrity and attention it deserves.
"It's important to provide people of color with the space to have complex identities, just like white people," Cepeda says.
Addressing racism and having nuanced conversations about its effects is impossible if we fail to acknowledge the diversity of race itself.
6. Using people of color as tokens
People of color are not trophies to show off when you don't want to seem racist. After someone calls you out on racist behavior, replying with "I grew up with people of all races" doesn't make you exempt from accountability. Telling people, "My closest friends are black" is not a good way to prove you can't possibly be a part of systems that oppress them.
Even allies do this to defend themselves — and it minimizes the value of people of color in your life to a convenient anecdote to excuse your behavior.
Don't use your friendships with people of color as a way to avoid responsibility. Instead, ask them about what they face in their daily lives, and what you can do to help.
People of color often find themselves as "the only one in the room" among a white majority. This dynamic creates an environment in which they get asked questions about their entire race. In conversations during Black History Month, for example, all eyes are on the one black student. When there's a debate about immigration, the Latina of the group suddenly has to decide what's right for all immigrants.
The expectation placed on people of color to represent their race strips them of the individuality of their thoughts and feelings.
Asking one person about everyone who shares the same skin color wrongly assumes they all share the same story
Asking one person about everyone who shares the same skin color wrongly assumes they all share the same story, and puts people of color in a position where they have to take responsibility for the experiences of people they don't even know.
Additionally, people of color "who operate in white spaces have to protect white fragility in order to protect themselves," Imani tells Mashable, adding that to prevent hostility or to try to be inclusive, they "may be silenced or say things they may not necessarily agree with."
If you're curious about the experiences and thoughts of people of color, it's OK to ask and engage in conversation. But it's important to give people of color the space to have dynamic, unique stories rather than forcing them to provide a singular narrative they may not even identify with.
5. Discussing racial identity in binaries
In the U.S. we often think of race in a binary — black or white — but this largely ignores the nuances of how other people of color are treated. Grouping all races into the same group oversimplifies conversations about race, and ignores the different ways communities of color face discrimination.
Still, such unique attention often reduces identities to stereotypical assumptions. When Cepeda told someone she was Dominican, she tells Mashable they replied, "No, you're too light — you have to be Puerto Rican." Although it wasn't intended to be malicious, this person's comment failed to acknowledge diversity in racial identity.
You can't assume someone's ethnicity based on their skin color.
You can't assume someone's ethnicity based on their skin color.
Cepeda's experiences as a fair-skinned Dominican are likely different than those of an Afro-Latina Dominican, for example. When the two are conflated, both racial identities are marginalized, because neither experience is treated with the integrity and attention it deserves.
"It's important to provide people of color with the space to have complex identities, just like white people," Cepeda says.
Addressing racism and having nuanced conversations about its effects is impossible if we fail to acknowledge the diversity of race itself.
6. Using people of color as tokens
People of color are not trophies to show off when you don't want to seem racist. After someone calls you out on racist behavior, replying with "I grew up with people of all races" doesn't make you exempt from accountability. Telling people, "My closest friends are black" is not a good way to prove you can't possibly be a part of systems that oppress them.
Even allies do this to defend themselves — and it minimizes the value of people of color in your life to a convenient anecdote to excuse your behavior.
Don't use your friendships with people of color as a way to avoid responsibility. Instead, ask them about what they face in their daily lives, and what you can do to help.