Thanks, great insights! I often have to remind myself that everyone is the center of their own universe. Due to my neurodiversity and mixed ancestry, I tend to be a lot more conscious of racism and microaggressions than most people who look like me. When I realized that the youth was reacting to my pin rather than my skin, I understood where he was coming from and felt empathy for him.

Yeah, I know autistic folks aren't supposed to be able to put themselves in other people's shoes and feel empathy, but that's a myth based on the usual male presentation. Autism in females is often associated with hyper-empathy and a keen sense of social justice because that's how we survive and contribute to society in a world that's not built for us. Think Temple Grandin, Greta Thornburg, Joan of Arc, etc.

Thanks again for reading and sharing. Blessings to you!