1. It’s Not Just a Phrase—It’s Psychological Control
“Assume positive intent” is more than a mantra—it’s a form of behavioral conditioning.
It teaches employees, especially those from marginalized groups, to:
- Prioritize optics over truth
- Suppress emotional reality
- Be complicit in their own silencing
That’s not just uncomfortable—it’s trauma-informed manipulation.
It says: “Your pain is valid—but don’t make it messy.”
But healing? Growth? Justice? They’re always messy.
2. It’s a Gatekeeping Tool for White Comfort
Let’s call it what it is:
A tactic to protect white fragility and maintain a status quo workplace culture that favors the dominant group.
It polices tone.
It controls response.
It demands diplomacy from the oppressed and none from the oppressor.
So when a Black woman raises her voice in defense? She’s angry.
When a white colleague makes an offhand comment about “how articulate you are”? That’s a compliment.
“Assume positive intent” becomes a pass—a hall pass for harm, issued only to those the system protects.
3. The Hidden Economy of “Respectability”
Respectability politics are at the root of this.
It’s not about doing your job—it’s about:
- Performing calmness
- Swallowing injustice
- Playing nice
All while bearing the emotional labor of teaching others how not to harm you.
And if you don’t? You’re “difficult,” “divisive,” or worse—“unfit for culture.”
But culture shouldn’t mean conformity.
Culture should mean courage.
4. Microaggressions Become Microjustified
“Assume positive intent” has become the PR team for microaggressions.
It helps convert:
- Bias into “misunderstanding”
- Disrespect into “miscommunication”
- Injustice into “teachable moments”
But here’s the truth:
A microaggression is still aggression—even if it’s wrapped in a smile.
And no, you don’t need to educate the aggressor every time. That’s not your job.
Your truth is the curriculum. And they need to study that.
5. Cultural Translation = Survival Mode
For marginalized folks—especially Black, Brown, LGBTQ+, disabled, immigrant, or neurodiverse workers—“assume positive intent” becomes a dangerous game.
A game of translation:
- “Let it go” means don’t fight back.
- “They didn’t mean it” means they get to do it again.
- “Let’s move forward” means you need to forget it happened.
This forces you into emotional bilingualism—navigating the truth while pretending you didn’t feel what you felt.
That’s not professionalism.
That’s emotional colonization.
6. Accountability Is the Only Language Liberation Understands
Let’s be crystal clear:
Accountability is not punishment. It’s restoration.
It’s about:
- Letting people know when they’ve caused harm
- Giving them a path to correct it
- Building a space where trust can grow, not fester
Real workplaces don’t ask for silence.
They make space for truth—even when it’s uncomfortable.
🎯 Bottom Line:
“Assume positive intent” sounds nice—until you realize it’s often code for:
- Don’t shake the table
- Don’t call out harm
- Don’t expect justice
But you’re not here to make people comfortable.
You’re here to make things clear.
Because healing doesn’t come from pretending.
It comes from naming, unpacking, and addressing the harm.
It’s not about promoting peace—it’s about preserving power dynamics.
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