Safe and Brave Spaces Don’t Work (and What You Can Do Instead)
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When engaging individuals from racialized or equity-deserving communities, organizations will often share promises of “safe and brave” spaces to encourage inclusive discussion, and for allies to learn from experiences different from their own.
We can probably stop making those promises now.
The truth is, safe spaces don’t exist for equity-deserving communities — or for those learning about identity and privilege.
And brave spaces? They negate the daily bravery marginalized communities need to display everywhere, to navigate everyday and common biases, discrimination, and microaggressions, in workplaces and society.
To move forward, we don’t need to promise safety or expect bravery. We need to embrace accountability.