46: I need to listen

I’m guilty of hearing friends talk about the experience of racism and rather than just listen, really take in what they are saying, I have found myself being dismissive because I don’t want them to dwell on something I find painful. I’ve just wanted to ‘fix' the situation with well meaning advice and what I thought was words of solidarity. I hadn’t until the BLM movement took hold of myself and asked myself if this kind of white saviour complex wasn't just another form of un-examined racism.