Dr Zuleyka Zevallos

DMs: I'm being attacked for speaking out on racism, how should I repond; we care about diversity, can't pay you, tell us how to do diversity

There are many more DMs I leave answered for the most part, but these are some of the general "civil" requests #POC get from White people.

If you DM #POC consider you are one of MANY White people making same taxing requests. If you can't ask publicly consider why you need to DM

White people grow up being told they're individuals worthy of respect, most thinking they're exceptional in own ways. #POC don't have this

That's why White people, including those who say they're allies or those who experience some disadvantage, think they are owed #POC's labour

I *just* published a thread on the requests White people made of me in past couple of weeks; multiple White people still DM me for the same.

Every #POC has to deal with these DMs on Whiteness. Reading them & ignoring them is still microaggression on top of other discrimination.

We don't need contrition. Just need White people to see full humanity of #POC. We are not free labour to be exploited. All those DMs add up

Those questions White people ask #POC, we have to decide whether we waste time explaining why you're racist & then deal with your fragility.

As for thinking #POC owe White people one-on-one tutorial on race, or a cookie for "allyship," that's racism at work.

The fact that there are patterns to these DMs from White people show the link between everyday racism on Twitter & structural racism.

Have the courage to ask in public; #POC may or may not answer if we have interest/time/emotional energy. But don't abuse generosity via DMs.

Related: I rarely follow back White people nowadays. Even if they seem to have related interests. Can't risk more opening for microagression

Why this is a pattern of Whiteness? Because #POC seldom DM asking for personal tutorials; if they DM, conversationis completely different

#POC who DM other POC don't ask with expectation of service. They spell out work they've already done & look for ways for mutual support.

#POC don't DM with questions for personal benefit. They look for ways to form solidarity in *communal* causes. That's a diff dynamic to WP.

#POC aren't perfect, & we all make mistakes, BUT it's the expectations behind DMs, & their broader context, that need deeper reflection.

DMs are also the place where White people will harass #POC in ways they don't in public. They feel more liberty to get upset & demanding.

There are power dynamics on Twitter same as every other social interaction. Race is a mediator of how & why DMs play out how they do.