Disclaimer: Apologies if I use any wrong terms, or otherwise say anything offensive it is not my intention.

We never know what it’s like to be someone else. We never truly understand their struggles.
We can listen, we can learn but we can never feel it. No matter how hard we try, we will always carry our own baggage, for better or for worse.

As a Muslim I have had a few comments in SL. As obese in RL I’ve had people stare at me. As a woman with a hormonal illness, able to grow a beard, I’ve had my nieces say they didn’t want to hug cause it prickled. But I still come from a privilege, I still live in a country that is relatively free from racism. I say relatively because we are all guilty, something may only be subconscious, some things because we simply don’t know and need someone to tell us.

A close friend of mine, black american, who I used to attend church in SL with; I remember her prayers, we were in an evangelic church so I knew things might be a bit over the top compared with the boring lazy church of my country. I also remember slightly rolling my eyes and thinking “typical americans” when she went out and above. But as time went on and she and I grow closer and I listened more carefully, I realised something …
In my country I was pushed to go get my driver’s license as my brother got his – our grandparents paid, and it was a moment of joy when we received it. But here I was, listening to a mother terrified that her son had gotten his. Not because he was reckless, but because of his skin colour.

Recently she and I was shopping in SL, and we talked about how she felt that people of colour (any colour) was very much not represented in fashion and ads. I know we have some fantastic models already. But to honour my friend and other friends I have in RL I made this avi look, and will make it part of my stable looks. The only way for me to help is to remind others there is something else than white, and that it’s perfectly normal.

The skin is matched my SL friend, the eyeshape is modelled based on a RL friend.

Head: CATWA – Catya
Body: Maitreya – Lara Mesh Body
Skin: itGirls – Noelle Catwa Applier – Mel Face
Eyes: A R T E – Turid Eyes
Ears: UNISEX[MANDALA]STEKING_EARS_Season 5 (Elf)
Hair: Stealthic – Ivy (Ombres)

Lips: itGirls – Catwa – Icy GRL Lips
Eyeshadows:
Zibska Tahnee Eyemakeup 04
Zibska Marzena Eyemakeup 03
League Gift: 3 Classic Wing Eyeliners

Dress: erratic / chelsea – dress / yellow floral

Necklace: AvaWay SYLVIA NECKLACES

Floaty bits:
Persefona Bokeh Photography Set
Persefona Butterflies Photo Set
Persefona Floating Flowers

Pose: an lar [poses] The Delia Series – Three

Background: .::IDK::. Wood panel Carolisa