Our race and gender are frequently two of the most public aspects of our identities, and they can intersect in complex and unique ways that can be ignored, misunderstood, or even weaponized by those even of the same race or gender. And as we move through communities that privilege and prioritize certain identity combinations over others, we can feel pressure to internally downplay or deny one aspect of our identity in favor of another. It can be hard to experience wholeness when we feel we can’t allow ourselves full expression, recognition, or appreciation of any part of our identity. Recognizing it when it happens and discovering the vocabulary to discuss it can be key to living in authenticity.