We All Have A Voice

Life

We all have a voice. What are you using yours for? That’s for you to decide.

But for me? I’m using mine to encourage those of greater privilege than me to listen to their hearts and speak out against injustices they bear witness too.

For all the ambition and things I’ve accomplished in this life, from time to time I have had to reflect and think, “imagine where I’d be if I was white“?

But really! Take all this ambition, drive, grit, perseverance, strength, and sociability. And put it into a white man’s body…What would you get? Well, we will never know…

Don’t get me wrong I love being black, being me. We can never know “alternate Claudius” and his accomplishments but we can strive for a world where I, and others that look like me, are running an equitable race and get an equitable share at the opportunities.

Too many in my community are becoming hashtags. Speak out against an unjust system. Speak out before it could be me.

We all have a voice. What are you using yours for? That’s for you to decide.

I’m using mine to encourage those of greater privilege than me to listen to their hearts and speak out against injustices they bear witness too. Because, sadly, some voices are more amplified than others.

I’m not judging you if you don’t speak out. I still love you. I just want you to be comfortable with what you choose to do (or not do).

Because here are some signs you might be experiencing cognitive dissonance:

• Squeamishness

• Avoidance (specifically conflict)

• Ignoring the facts

• Rationalizations

• and more

Realize, these are signs your body is telling you that you are taking action or inaction (because even inaction is a form of action) contrary to your ideas, values, or beliefs.

Lastly, I’d like to say, speaking out comes in many forms – reaching out to an affected friend, protesting peacefully, signing a petition, penning a tweet or post, etc.

Speaking out = showing someone affected that you care and are committed to change.

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash