A is for Assumption
Earlier today, I attended an educator virtual meetup centered around equity and community, led by the amazing Tamisha Williams. During this session, I observed the rest of the participants in their little Zoom squares, curious about how they had made their way into education and, importantly, wondering what they have been doing to dismantle racist systems in support of justice for black and brown lives.
Our facilitator shared the powerful and accredited Social Identity Wheel with us, an activity that encourages individuals to identify and reflect on the ways in which their various identities are visible or observable at different times.
In the breakout groups to follow, I met 3 wonderful women from around the country — two White, one Latinx, and one Indian-American (that’s me). I had 6 minutes to share my salient identities with the group, so I focused on my most noticeable identity markers:
~ I am a privileged daughter of two doctors
~ I am an educator of black and brown youth
~ I am a 29-year-old Indian-American woman who is committed to dismantling the silence and complacency in the South Asian community around black bodies being mistreated and murdered in the US
While I had more time to introduce myself and share my identities, I didn’t want to take up too much space *rolls eyes*, so I simply finished with “I’m sure you can tell many of my identities just by looking at me.”
I immediately regretted my statement — who was I to think these individuals who I had never met could fill my Social Identity Wheel for me? Am I not more complex than what meets the eye over a Zoom video call? Would I make these superficial assumptions about others?
Spoiler: my group made it clear that they wanted me to complete my wheel and speak my truth. Of course, what would you expect from a group of educators who opted into a free PD over summer break on equity? #mypeople
Assuming that my virtual peers would see the same things I see in myself was a limit in my understanding.
It is when every person is given the space to state their identities and unapologetically correct others’ assumptions that we will be able to get out of our own way and onto the good stuff. This small step of active listening will help us get much farther in the courage conversations we are trying to have in this ever-changing world.
Today’s message is short and sweet.
Safeness today and always,
Mika
