MY MOM MADE THIS TO KEEP ME SAFE

I HAVE AUTISM. I HAVE A HEART OF GOLD. I DO NOT KNOW THE WORLD IS A SCARY PLACE SO MY MOM MADE THIS TO KEEP ME SAFE.

DEAR COMMUNITY,

I AM A GREAT GUY. 

I HAVE A FAMILY THAT LOVES ME.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONSCIOUS BIAS’S

I HAVE AUTISM.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY UNCONSCIOUS BIAS.

I AM A BLACK MAN.

I LACK THE ABILITY TO ANTICIPATE DANGER.

I LIKE EVERYONE…ESPECIALLY GIRLS.

I DON’T HAVE ANY FEAR OF YOU, OR THE POLICE.

I AM NOT GOOD WITH SOCIAL CUES.

I AM ALMOST ALWAYS SMILING.

IF YOU GLARED AT ME OR THREATENED ME,  I WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND.

I DO NOT KNOW THAT I NEED TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM PEOPLE.

I JUMP UP AND DOWN, MAKE FUNNY NOISES AND MOVEMENTS WITH MY FINGERS.

I AM NOT DANGEROUS, JUST IN MY OWN WORLD.

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PROTECT MYSELF FROM PEOPLE WHO COULD HARM ME

MY VERBAL UNDERSTANDING IS NOT GOOD.

I AM A GREAT READER.

IF I WALKED INTO A STORE THAT WAS BEING ROBBED, I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

I WOULD JUST CARRY ON BEING ME.

I DON’T UNDERSTAND WORDS THAT ARE CONCEPTS…LIKE SAFETY AND DANGER, RACE, RACISM, SOCIAL SAFETY NET, INJUSTICE, LOVE AND HATE.

I JUST AM….

     PLEASE HELP KEEP ME SAFE.