From another's blog--My sentiments EXACTLY
http://johnraible.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/i-am-no-longer-willing-to-be-the-only-one/
I am no longer willing to be the Only One
I am no longer willing to be a token representative of diversity. I am no longer willing to walk into a room, a party, a workplace, a church, a family gathering, or a conference and be the ONLY ONE. Been there, done that. And it is always anxiety-producing; often it is painful. When I walk in, expect me to look around and count how many people are present who share my identities. If I find myself the ONLY ONE yet again, don’t be surprised when I walk out. The lack of diversity in any social environment is a threat to my well-being. I am no longer willing to tolerate monocultural, all-white, all-heterosexual environments because I experience them as unnatural, unsafe, and oppressive.
I am no longer willing to put my needs for safety and protection aside by putting my brown queer body into potentially hostile environments. I am no longer willing to make myself available for the public scrutiny, questioning, amusement, curiosity, comfort, and entertainment of others who don’t look like me. I am no longer willing to stifle conversation about topics that matter to me-race, adoption, racism, oppression, homophobia, heterosexism, white supremacy, patriarchy, sexism, classism, adultism, youth liberation, and social justice.
I am no longer willing to let others define the topic of conversation because it too often results in my marginalization and invisibility. I am no longer willing to tolerate racist comments and ignorant perspectives about the communities I belong to. I am no longer willing to take care of dominant individuals as they squirm in discomfort when my mere presence agitates them. I am no longer willing to subsume my needs for respect and acceptance, for freedom. I am no longer willing to hide who I am. I am no longer willing to censor my voice. I am no longer willing to put up with the fear and resentment of others who have more power than me, and whose privilege comes at my expense.
I hereby pledge to be true to myself and to ALL of who I am. I pledge to speak my truth, and to flaunt my identities. I pledge to insist on safety, inclusion, and respect for myself and all people who look like me, and who share my experience of marginalization. I pledge to demand social justice in all my spheres of influence, and to call on allies to expand the social circle so that I do not have to be the ONLY ONE present. If you know me and value my participation at social events, get used to it. If you cant’ stand it, if you cannot help me honor this pledge, then we can’t be in coalition together. If you can’t tolerate these basic demands, these essential human rights, then we are no longer in relationship to each other. This I pledge to myself and to my fellow transracial adoptees. This I pledge because racial isolation and segregation are wrong. This I pledge because multiculturalism is the future, and it begins now. This I pledge because I am worth it. This I pledge because we have suffered long enough.
I am no longer willing to be the Only One
I am no longer willing to be a token representative of diversity. I am no longer willing to walk into a room, a party, a workplace, a church, a family gathering, or a conference and be the ONLY ONE. Been there, done that. And it is always anxiety-producing; often it is painful. When I walk in, expect me to look around and count how many people are present who share my identities. If I find myself the ONLY ONE yet again, don’t be surprised when I walk out. The lack of diversity in any social environment is a threat to my well-being. I am no longer willing to tolerate monocultural, all-white, all-heterosexual environments because I experience them as unnatural, unsafe, and oppressive.
I am no longer willing to put my needs for safety and protection aside by putting my brown queer body into potentially hostile environments. I am no longer willing to make myself available for the public scrutiny, questioning, amusement, curiosity, comfort, and entertainment of others who don’t look like me. I am no longer willing to stifle conversation about topics that matter to me-race, adoption, racism, oppression, homophobia, heterosexism, white supremacy, patriarchy, sexism, classism, adultism, youth liberation, and social justice.
I am no longer willing to let others define the topic of conversation because it too often results in my marginalization and invisibility. I am no longer willing to tolerate racist comments and ignorant perspectives about the communities I belong to. I am no longer willing to take care of dominant individuals as they squirm in discomfort when my mere presence agitates them. I am no longer willing to subsume my needs for respect and acceptance, for freedom. I am no longer willing to hide who I am. I am no longer willing to censor my voice. I am no longer willing to put up with the fear and resentment of others who have more power than me, and whose privilege comes at my expense.
I hereby pledge to be true to myself and to ALL of who I am. I pledge to speak my truth, and to flaunt my identities. I pledge to insist on safety, inclusion, and respect for myself and all people who look like me, and who share my experience of marginalization. I pledge to demand social justice in all my spheres of influence, and to call on allies to expand the social circle so that I do not have to be the ONLY ONE present. If you know me and value my participation at social events, get used to it. If you cant’ stand it, if you cannot help me honor this pledge, then we can’t be in coalition together. If you can’t tolerate these basic demands, these essential human rights, then we are no longer in relationship to each other. This I pledge to myself and to my fellow transracial adoptees. This I pledge because racial isolation and segregation are wrong. This I pledge because multiculturalism is the future, and it begins now. This I pledge because I am worth it. This I pledge because we have suffered long enough.