7. [tired]

The following was originally posted on my Facebook. I felt the need to share here as well.

I am tired. I am so tired of explaining white privilege to people who don't believe it exists. I am tired of explaining why I am nervous to get pulled over. I am tired of explaining that while I had the opportunity to receive an education and start a career and move 3,000 miles away from home, there are people who look like me who do not have those same opportunities and if they want them, they should have them too.

I am tired of explaining to people with their minds already made up, that being a "well behaved" black woman will not save me from a person in an authoritative position deciding they will harass me because of how I look.

I am tired of explaining why my father and one of my uncles have given me the "work twice as hard to get half as much" speech to people who believe that if everyone just pull themselves up by their boot straps they'll be successful.

I am tired of explaining, apologizing and dialing back.

So I am not going to anymore. I am not going to apologize. I am not going to dial back. I am not going to explain to those unwilling to listen. I am not going to be a kinder version of who I am in an effort to accommodate those unwilling to accommodate me.

I am all for civility and empathy and listening. However, I will not stand for accommodating and pacifying egos.