LIFE
Joining the Conversation
Supporting Racial + Social Justice in a Real Way WORDS BY KELCIE GLASS // PHOTO BY TONY POWELL
I am a Black woman who was born and raised in Washington, D.C. I attended some of the best D.C. public schools and had many opportunities other Black people in our city and across the country will never have. But when I walk into any room, I am Black first. And because I am Black, my personal experiences – more often than not – do not matter. In public spaces and corporate workplaces, I know that the stereotypes associated with Black people and women who look like me will supersede the accolades I am so proud of. I have always felt welcomed and included by the District Fray editorial team, which is why I trust them to offer me space as a Black woman genuinely and authentically in their publication. It took me a while to begin writing this piece. Initially, I wanted 54 | JULY 2020
to talk all about my new media site, www.blackexchange.co, and how it will be a resource hub for moving actions, organizations and Black businesses forward. But I believe every opportunity presented for someone like me to share on a platform with a different audience should be much more impactful. Right now, many of us are navigating having very real and oftentimes traumatic conversations about race and social injustice. We are trying to figure out how to join these conversations in a substantive way, and how we can share our personal stories in hopes of changing toxic aspects of our culture. Many of you may be trying to figure out how you can be a true ally, because despite the fact that you are not a person of color, you are morally sound. You know racism has no place in our world. Photo of Kelcie Glass.
