Black People Don’t Trust Us — That Doesn’t Mean We Get to Opt Out

I hate it when people don’t like me.

I know it’s childish. I know it’s a waste of energy. I know it’s vain. (See also: the number of times I’ve written “I” or “ me” so far.)

But have you ever really thought about what it means to be “liked?” Is it being treated nicely? Having followers? Being spoken of fondly at your funeral? More important, what doesn’t fall in the category of “being liked?” I’d suggest being effective, being worthy, and — most of all — being trusted.

Many of us conflate liking people with trusting them, or assume the former begets the latter. “I like you so I trust you.” As the country has more widespread conversations about racism and individual responsibility, confusion about liking and trusting reigns supreme.

I’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for 13 years now, and for six years on college campuses before that. Organizations meant to serve the community are my industry. And my industry loves to talk about is the “mutual trust” required between institutions and the people they serve. I think it’s safe to say that mutual trust is no longer on the table. That trust hasn’t just been breached for Black Americans, it was a house built on sand.

You can read the rest of this post on Medium.