To amplify black voices

Canada 🇨🇦 “Getting to this point was tough. I came from an immigrant family that encouraged me to do programs that will provide financial security. I studied science in college but it became very clear to me that it wasn’t for me. When you are sitting next to people that are super excited to learn it and you are not there at all you realize: ‘Maybe I should also find what I’m interested in.’ I studied communications and did a graduate diploma in journalism. Even when I was doing my undergrad and diploma, I wasn’t sure what it was that I wanted to amplify until I asked myself: what is my story? I’m an immigrant myself, I’m from the African continent, from the African diaspora. When you look at the continent there’s a lot that is happening there, a lot of things that are not being told. It then clicked for me. Africa has the youngest population in the world and youth is synonymous to growth, I’m trying to position myself as a storyteller and journalist of the continent.

I recently started a podcast called Filling the Void. It’s for people to speak about their stories to help any up and coming university students and graduates. There is nothing compared to personal stories. Why go through it if you can learn from someone else. In light of everything that has been happening in the world with the Black Lives Matter movement, I want to amplify black voices and tell black stories. Education is another place that needs to be decolonised. It’s all the more important for black people to come and share their stories and to say we are here, our stories are valid and we are getting educated.

“I realized that phrase “being the voice of the voiceless” is actually oppressive. You can’t be the voice of the voiceless, everyone has a voice.”

I would say my story is very similar to a lot of black American journalists. I was raised in the states and back in the day, after school, I would go home and watch The Oprah Winfrey Show on TV. This was a tradition that I would do with my mom. As I watched Oprah do her thing, I was like, that’s what I want to do. When I grew up, I realised, I want to be the voice of the voiceless, I thought, there are people that are disadvantaged and oppressed. When I transitioned to university, I realized that phrase “being the voice of the voiceless” is actually oppressive. You can’t be the voice of the voiceless, everyone has a voice. What you need to have is someone who can amplify their voice, provide a platform for their voice.

For me, it’s all about amplifying the voices of people who are already doing the work. What these people need are ears: for people to listen to them. They need hands: people have hands to do the work. They need feet: people who have feet to run the work and they need funds. That’s what people who are oppressed need. One of the things I learned in journalism school was: “never give your mic away because who has the mic, has control.” Nobody can tell your story better than you. That’s what my new mantra is, making sure I don’t take a mic away from people.

I’ve come a long way from the little girl who looked at Oprah Winfrey and wanted a talk show. Now, I have a deeper understanding that I really want a platform to amplify voices.”