John Filson

If you’re not black and you’ve ever felt unsure whether you’d be welcome among black people, a friend of mine said it well: “If you’re cool with us, we’re cool with you.” I must be cool, because I have always felt very welcomed by black people—friends and strangers both. Thank you @Desharri for the invitation.

Being invited to “the cookout” as a white guy was an honor for me. It means black friends think I’m alright. If that sounds exclusive, like you have to pass a vibe test, it’s the opposite. Yes it’s the vibe; But it’s black people who often feel excluded in broader U.S. culture, and I took this invitation as a sign that I may not remind them of that as much. If you’re white, give black people space. But if they invite you to a cookout, definitely go. If you’re black, how’s my interpretation here? I never hit it right on the bullseye so please let me know. #inclusion #cookout #dei #community

Before you decide what to think, just let it sit for a minute. What can we as white individuals do differently in small or not small ways to change this vibe? #greenscreen #belonging #america #blackandwhite @Desharri