Don’t Let Me Stop You From Ignoring My Black Ass

Don’t let me stop you.

I would hate to interrupt you from ignoring another Black woman.

We have become remarkably skilled at praising Black women in retrospect.

After the work is done. After the warning was ignored. After the harm has already happened. After somebody else repeats what she said and suddenly it becomes worth hearing.

Then come the acknowledgements. The appreciation posts. The panels. The statements about how important Black women’s voices are.

But recognition after the fact is not the same thing as listening when it matters.

Sometimes supporting a Black woman is far less complicated than people make it sound.

Believe her while she is speaking. Credit her while she is creating. Defend her while she is standing in the room.

And if you have already decided not to? Please. Don’t let me interrupt you.