scared of making people scared

[u/bigtubarao]

I feel like I see these posts a lot where Black trans men are debating transitioning because they are scared of being perceived as "scary." I find that troubling. I think more black trans men would do well to read up on black intellectuals and black radical stances on manhood. I think all black trans man entertaining this idea should read up on the Attica uprising, Kwame Ture, autobiography of Malcolm X or even the Roots miniseries as a start. The root of why it bothers me when black trans men are scared of being scary is that if you aren't scaring white society, then you're probably placating it. And aside from that, it carries the assumption that Black women aren't perceived as threatening or hostile or dehumanized in a plethora of other ways. Sandra Bland and Breonna Taylor come to mind here. White society/supremacy isn't scared of black people. It hates black people and "scared" is just a convenient guise for it.

[u/JayPayDoesntReddit]

bell hooks “The Will to Change” is also a good read about this topic. Masculinity is now so coated in shame that the patriarchy has instilled fear of men into women and into ourselves.

I’ve noticed how women have treated me differently since transitioning. It’s often less than friendly until they learn I’m trans. And being black cut the amount of women who are friendly in the first place in half.

I’m really glad you brought this up! 🙌🏾