At Chacruna: The Damage of White Feminism: An Anecdote

Sara Reed

Warning: This essay contains racist language that may be triggering for some people. 

One white woman tells a story of the old days and uses the slur “nigger.” A jolt of lightning runs through my body; I look to the organizer to see if she felt the shock too. The light in the room becomes heavy, the panelist’s story, more convoluted. I look around the audience to see what’s happening. All eyes look at me to say something. I hear my mentor’s words ringing in my ear, “Don’t leave Sara. Your presence is important.” I get back in the story; she says “nigger” again... continue reading.