I Will Get Things Wrong
A few months ago, I had a conversation with an influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. She made a comment that struck me: “The people who follow you, look like you.“ I really hadn’t thought about that.
Although my page is mostly dedicated to words, there are occasions in which I show my face, or share photos of my body using mobility aids. The latter, I will do forever, because I think it’s really important to witness disability. The former doesn’t feel particularly relevant. Not now, anyway.
That said, I take having a following very seriously. And I acknowledge that my many privileges got you here.
I am thin. I am white. I am relatively young. I am conventionally attractive. I am disabled, but my disability is largely invisible on social media, barring the photographs that I share in which I’m using a walker or a wheelchair. And because of the privilege I carry, my disability is looked upon favorably.
Last week, I engaged in the #amplifyingmelanatedvoices prompt. I muted many of the white humans that I follow, and I’m grateful to have found rich content from Black creators that I may not have otherwise never stumbled upon.
I’m grateful to have diversified my feed, and I’m committed to continuing to do so.
I follow humans with stories that are not like mine. On purpose.
I follow members of the LGBTQ+ community. I follow humans who live in fat and very fat bodies. Now, more so, I follow a more racially diverse collection of humans, too.
The gut punch? They were here this whole time. I had been missing out on incredible clinicians, creators, writers, HUMANS because I didn’t search for them & the humans I follow didn’t share their work. I appreciate the willingness of Black folx to participate in the campaign to increase their visibility. I’m sorry that a campaign was required to get your content to me.
Last week, I got a lot of things wrong. Although I have been making efforts to engage in anti-racism learning for years, I was unprepared to respond to a graphic murder & a global outcry for racial justice.
I will get things wrong.
I will share my errors with you so that we can learn together.
Anti-racism work is work.
I am here for it.⬇
