Domyo Burk
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Dear Ana,

I hear you. I spoke at this event. I didn’t plan to but I was invited to because I was dressed as a clergy person.

Like most of the people present, I showed up because I felt some response was necessary, and didn’t know what else to do. I vote my conscience, speak within my family and community against racism (overt and systemic), am politically active, etc. But I wanted to show up in person as a statement against the white supremacists. I guess it felt like white people standing up against white people. We have to do that, right? It saddens me that the crowd was mostly white. Do you have any concrete suggestions for how such an event could be organized differently (especially given the short notice), in order to have a more diverse attendance? Sadly, our society tends to be so segregated, white organizers have no idea where to begin in doing this.

Another sincere question, one that probably reveals my ignorance: If, as is so often the case, there are only a handful of people of color in a crowd like this, would you advise organizers to directly approach them and invite them to speak? (In a low-pressure, friendly way.) Or is this putting them on the spot, or risking making them a token POC participant (which might make organizers feel more satisfied that their event was diverse)? I honestly think shyness and lack of experience leads some of us white folks to unintentionally exclude… some of us are, frankly, terrified that a POC will respond with anger that they were picked out of the crowd because of the color of their skin! But maybe this fear is out of proportion? I guess if I was one of a few women at a rally full of men speaking out against violence against women, I would find it appropriate if they asked me to speak…

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