Hiding in Plain Sight

Some food for thought

I’m thinking a lot about this tweet lately. It resonates with me, hiding parts of me in order to “be professional” or be accepted by others I encounter on a daily basis. I find myself exhausted by the end of the day trying to make sure I meet others’ expectations and not violate any of their “norms”.

When I talk about this, I’m told to just be myself and to have courage to do so, as if you just “do this”, Nike style.

People who dish this advice, I’d like you to know that often times, these words are empty when not supported by systemic change to make it safe for minorities to truly be themselves. It places the responsibility of change on an individual.

Often, it’s not about whether someone is “resilient enough” or “courageous enough” to be themselves. It’s about whether it’s been safe to do so. And for a lot of people, it’s still not safe.

Think about that.