Writing about race will hurt feelings
I wrote about microaggressions and white savior behaviors and people didn’t like it
I don’t like confrontation. I never have. I don’t enjoy arguing, and I don’t like making people upset.
I’ve always been the type of person who tries to keep the peace, who listens more than speaks, and who chooses kindness over conflict.
So it’s not easy for me to write something that I know might hurt someone’s feelings.
But when I write about race, equity, or injustice, I know it might.
Recently, I shared an essay about microaggressions and “white savior” behavior.
I tried to explain how even small comments or actions—often meant to be helpful—can end up doing harm, especially when they come from a place of power or privilege.
After I shared it, a couple of readers reached out. They were clearly upset. They felt attacked. They got defensive.
That was hard for me to read. I don’t want anyone to feel bad. But I also know that staying silent helps no one.
The truth is, I don’t write these things to shame anyone.
I write them to name something that is often hidden but very real.
Microaggressions may seem small, but over time, they pile up.
They hurt.
They leave people feeling unseen and unheard.
If I know that and stay quiet, then I become part of the problem.
Still, it’s hard. I often second-guess myself. I wonder if I said it the right way, if I could have used gentler words, or if someone will stop reading what I write altogether.
But I’ve come to believe that growth doesn’t happen when we’re comfortable. It happens when something challenges us.
So to those who felt hurt by what I wrote: I hear you. I truly do. But I also ask that you sit with that discomfort for a moment.
Ask yourself why it stings.
Ask yourself what it might be revealing.
Because that discomfort can lead to real change—if we let it.
I will keep writing.
Not because I enjoy upsetting people, but because I care deeply.
I believe we all deserve to live in a more just, honest, and loving world.
And sometimes, speaking truth—even when it’s hard—is part of how we get there.