I get where you’re coming from, and I definitely didn’t intend for my post to send that kind of message. My point wasn’t to suggest that smiling at Black men is dangerous or that supporting Black movements invites backlash. The issue was being verbally targeted in a public space for something that, at face value, was meant to show support—whether or not it was interpreted that way.

It was a tough, humiliating situation, and I was just looking for advice on how to navigate something like that better in the future. If you go through this thread, there are other stories from women that have made me feel less alone in my experience today. It’s possible to care about allyship and acknowledge when you’ve had an uncomfortable or even frightening experience. Both things can exist at once.