“In order for white people and other people in privileged social locations to truly be invested in liberation work, they must be willing to not only see themselves, but also see the people they harm. They must be willing to set aside their intentions and see their impact. They must? In some sense, be willing to die: to experience death of the ego.”
- Grieving While Black by Breeshia Wade
“When I reflect on what I personally need from people who have inadvertently caused me harm by virtue of their social location, I recognize I don’t need them to feel guilty or ashamed. Feeling badly about one’s identity or privilege leads to being consumed by helplessness, and suffering is powerless to heal.
I need people to be accountable and aware, willing to unequivocally commit to attending their own suffering, not hiding or avoiding, so that I do not bear the consequences of their shrouded grief and pain.
White people have always had the key to address racism and misogynoir. They do not need marginalized people to actively teach them to be better while they argue about their intentions. The way to learn is to listen when a person chooses to describe their experience.”
-Grieving While Black by Breeshia Wade
