If Black people reconfigured their belief systems after centuries of brainwashing and manipulation, there’s no reason that our community can’t come together and see that Black trans communities are just as worthy and beautiful as the rest of the Black community.

Trans folks are steering Black people in the right direction to heal from the binary systems that taught us to believe that straight hair is ideal and kinky curls are ugly.

Lyles is just one of many Black men that don’t see Trans folks as people, let alone on par with their own Blackness.

For toxic people, Black Trans folks are desired for consumption, but not for preservation.

The Black community must understand that the only Black normativity that exists is an intersectional and dynamic one in which Black people can be any combination of LGBTQ, disabled, woman, mentally ill, non-binary, fluid, special needs, neuro-typical, able-bodied, cis, straight, etc. — and also none of your damn business.