The pull of ‘whiteness’ is real.
Being brown in rooms full of white folks and not showing up the way you want or need to out of self-preservation or fear.
Feeling like you’re at an ongoing disadvantage and have to make up for it by giving up a piece of yourself.
The sense that any mistake you make or challenge you bring up will be judged at a higher level of scrutiny.
Being invited or given access to spaces but only if you play the game. And we play, because we feel the cost of not playing is too high.
It’s painful and disillusioning.
But this can’t be where we leave it. We can’t keep playing because the cost is even higher if we do.
I’m sharing this powerful and brave story of Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC of her experiences, a story which I am part of, as a reminder to myself and others about how even if we ourselves are racialized, we can play a role in racism. Even the role of bystander is still a role. Thank you for giving of yourself to share this, Nneka, and for our shared journey to get to where we are now. I admire your courage to share your truth, and shed light on important issues in our sector. Your sharing of your pain and experiences of anti-Black racism, and your brave resistance will open the door for others to share, will encourage reflection, and they warrant action.
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately about harm I’ve caused others, even unintentionally, and when I did or did not show up the way I should have. Whether I believe I’m a good person or not doesn’t matter. There’s much work ahead for me and for all of us.
https://lnkd.in/gTWGDTJ6
Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCCNneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC• 1st• 1stRelationship Builder/Stone-Catcher/Freedom Fighter/Writer/CoachRelationship Builder/Stone-Catcher/Freedom Fighter/Writer/Coach
“If you’re silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” ~ Zora Neale Hurston.
The purpose of light is to allow us to see things in their fullness. For me, the relationship between light and truth is a powerful elixir. Grounded in self-love and love of my community, I once again turn the light of my truth on another story about my experience of anti-Black racism in the charitable sector. This story has been four years in the making and today I testify from a brave place. I am grateful for my journey here because in this spot clarity and validation are abundant.
I first shared this story as a lecture in November 2022 at the University of British Columbia as one of their first Scholars in Residence on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. It was a gift to share my experiences and scholarship at the intersection of race and power, specifically illuminating what happens when conscious Black people are invited into spaces dominated by white supremacy culture. Sharing my truth with a live audience was in part an affirmation of my humanity. I continue my activism here as a lesson and expression of love.
In the dedication of our book Collecting Courage, the Editors wrote, “To our Black community, in all its diversity, our truth, our stories are ours to tell. Our voices are power. We summon you to testify, to document and to share your life.” Silence has always been an ill-fitting suit, not made for me. This is a documenting.
…and when we speak we are afraid
our words will not be heard
nor welcomed
but when we are silent
we are still afraid
So it is better to speak
remembering
we were never meant to survive.
~ Audre Lorde, A Litany for Survival
In celebration of Black love, I give you, Us and Them: What It Really Means to Belong.
https://lnkd.in/gpjrJ4RW
Mide Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP., Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE, Nicole Salmon, Camila Pereira, PhD, Rickesh Lakhani, Elizabeth LeClair, Mazarine Treyz, Christal M. Cherry, Birgit Smith Burton, Nicole Jamrozinski, Esther Saehyun L., Stephen Hinds, MA, CPHR, CHRL, ACC, Dr. Julie Berthoud-Jury, CFRE, Cathy Barrick (she/her/hers), Scott Russell, The Empathy Agency Inc.Activate to view larger image,
