The biggest thing is to continue to educate yourself by reading things by PoC and listening to what PoC are already saying.

In discussions:

When it is a discussion involving only you and PoC: Listen to what PoC are saying and realize the conversation is not about you. Don’t interject to talk over anyone and don’t derail the conversations that are happening. Common derailing conversations include: “but we’re not all like that!” “I don’t see color,” and “maybe if you were nicer to white people, they’d listen!” Also don’t expect to be immediately invited to these conversations; don’t go into safe spaces unless explicitly invited.

When it is a discussion involving you, other white people, and PoC: Listen to what PoC are saying and realize the conversation is not about you. Don’t interject to talk over anyone and don’t derail the conversations that are happening. But also check your other white people. To me, that’s the best thing white people can do, calling each other out. It can sometimes be stressful for PoC to call out white people, especially if it is in a predominately white space.

When it is a discussion involving you and other white people: call them out when they say problematic shit. Get them to read and educate themselves just like you have. And let them know that neither you nor them are ever going to be experts in racism just because you’ve read Audre Lorde.

- Jennifer