Had a great day where I learned a lot, but reality of being a #WOC, is that I had a good day in spite of racial microaggressions. [Thread]pic.twitter.com/9JzWTl4r8T
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In a room full of professionals, 2 White women, in completely different conversations made fun of my name.
"I'll never be able to say it!"pic.twitter.com/dsa0Jvd0TU
I introduce myself. "What?!," White woman leans in close my chest where my name tag is. "I would never even know how to read that! [Laughs]"pic.twitter.com/QxwxFtxkFy
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You can ask me how to pronounce my name
- but making a show of your discomfort is just White people saying they don't know any #POC.pic.twitter.com/79HjXWjUPn -
I meet new people all the time, so I am forced to watch White people act as if saying my name is an incredible imposition or feat. It isn't.pic.twitter.com/iMK7oRw9XY
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That's a lifetime of same racist interactions, on top of discrimination throughout school, career, everyday life. And I'm expected to laughpic.twitter.com/kyXC7px313
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Then I tell White woman # 3 I work with vulnerable populations. She begins complaining about coworker she's decided is "on the spectrum"pic.twitter.com/XAM9aUNBN9
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It is not even 10am. 7 hours to go with WW who use race and disability as "jokes" & slurs. I'm the only one explaining why this is not okpic.twitter.com/HT0er2GgzF
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In the past week: 1) Upon learning I'm Peruvian, 1 WW disrespects Indigenous people of Peru; refuses to listen why it's offensive.pic.twitter.com/2AtSKNWdSX
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2) Another WW loudly proclaims anti-racism is silly concept and starts convo on this. Has previously consulted me about my work on race.
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3) Another WW explains it's easier to focus women's rights on White women first and WOC later.pic.twitter.com/eMfJyUhmWJ
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4) Waking out of one of Sydney's busiest train stations, White man grumbles next to me: "get out of the way, Black b****." It is 6pm.pic.twitter.com/UNRYPoHl3S
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Maybe I'm just mean, but the first response that popped into my head was "oh, so you don't know how to read?"
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LOL!
The strange thing is we were at a communications/ leadership skills course. You know. To learn new things. About dealing w people. 
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I respond w/ snarky questions to force them to admit their stupidity "Exactly, why is that?" Then I stare in awkward silence 4 a response
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I'm a fan of the awkward silence! In this case, I said: "It's pronounced exactly how I said it: Zuleyka."
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I've met women who hesitate to even introduce themselves by name, weary of the common responses.
End of conversation
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Their lack of embarrassment about it is infuriating. Message: only "white" names are worth learning and yours is stupid and funny.
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They simply don't see why they should make an effort.
End of conversation
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Zuleyka, this is all shit & I am sorry it happened & happens.
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