It’s the first quarter of New Year, and you’ve decided with the ongoing division between groups, you will extend an invitation to invite me—a woman of color—to your table. The invitation reads, “You have been cordially invited to join us at the table.” This warm, gracious, and heartfelt invitation appears to be sincere until the brown face enters the room, eager to join in collective participation. Excited about the mission and vision, I pull my chair up to the table and raise my voice to speak. Immediately all heads turn toward me. The atmosphere shifts. The room chills. Without words, it is evident I am to be seen, not heard. Once again I realize that I am there for appearance purposes only.
I raise my voice to speak. Immediately all heads turn toward me. The atmosphere shifts. The room chills.
Other invitations are extended inviting me to join certain social media groups. As I begin to participate, I witness a pattern of my posts being ignored or gaining very few likes and comments. When I go to insert myself into a thread, I am soon shut down or shut out. I cannot help but think I was only invited to create the illusion that there’s diversity taking place.
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