I remember when Rachel Dolezal made headlines. The world stopped and there was this large conversation about race, equity and even the way in which women were treated within our society, based specifically on one’s race. We went back and forth about what it means to be black, the essence of who we are and how we are viewed by others. Rachel’s decision to present herself as a woman of color, not only in her personal life but the work she chose to do (president of the NACCP chapter in Spokane, Washington) had America in an uproar.

Fast forward to 2023 and here we are again. The controversial topic of conversation today is all about transgendered women/men and how cis-gendered men and women move within a world where gender identity and how one chooses to identify oneself is not clear cut. I will be the first to admit I am a novice. I am not clear about terms that have become hot topic words within our lexicon. “Cisgender“, “non-binary“, and the redefining of pronouns is all relatively new to me. I am open to being apart of a larger conversation as it relates to how we, as humans, interact with each other. My core belief in life is: “All people, no matter who they are, no matter their religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity deserve the respect of being a human being”. That for me is a non negotiable. I also believe that when it comes to controversial issues within our society, arguing, violence and a lack of communication will get us no where.

There needs to be space for all voices to be heard and for us to not get so riled up that we can not move forward as a culture. As a woman born of the darker hue, I know what it is like to be judged before a word is spoken. I know what it feels like to be shopping and being mindful of where my hands are at all times as I watch storekeepers watch me. I am aware of the racial profiling, the assumptions of being an employee rather than a consumer (when I am not wearing anything remotely identifying me as said employee). I know what it’s like to not be asked about pain after just giving birth (the fact that the mortality rate of black women are much higher than those of white and Asian counterparts). I know this. I also know that transwomen are dying at an alarming rate in this country. Their lives, like the lives of cis gendered black women are not held in as high regard as that of a non woman of color. I know we live in a white male patriarchal society where unless you are such, there are uphill battles one must engage in for proper respect. This, dear reader I know to be true.

Tell me where we go from here? I think there are comments made online specifically stated to incite an emotional response. As a collective, we need to be able to push past the “noise” of clickbait and “Watch me go viral” mentality to hold space for the true work that will move us forward, not as trans, not as cis but just as people making our way in this world. What are your thoughts dear reader? Until next time, blessings.