Living in a world that demands visibility: Navigating the conflict as a Black woman
In today’s world, visibility is a currency. Whether you’re building a career, running a business, or simply trying to make your voice heard, being seen has never been more important. For many, this push for visibility is empowering, but for others, especially Black women like myself, it brings a complex internal conflict.
I was raised in a culture where humility was valued, where we were taught not to draw attention to ourselves. We learned to stay in the background, not to make waves, and to let our work speak for itself. But as the world evolves, it demands something different from us: it demands our presence, our stories, and our voices. And this clash between the past we were raised in and the present we live in creates a tension that can be hard to reconcile.
For Black women and many from the global majority, this conflict isn’t just theoretical. It shows up every day, in boardrooms, on social media, and in the spaces where we’re asked to show up authentically. We know the value of speaking up and promoting ourselves, but old conditioning whispers that doing so is "too much." The result? We often hesitate, waiting for permission to enter rooms we’ve earned a place in long ago.
But here’s the truth: the world won’t wait for us to shake off that conditioning. Our stories, our work, and our voices are needed now. There’s too much at stake to stay hidden.
Breaking free from this mindset isn’t easy. It means challenging deeply ingrained beliefs about what it means to be "good," "humble," or "respectful." It means standing up in spaces that haven’t always been welcoming to us and saying, "I belong here." And most importantly, it means reclaiming the narrative about who we are and what we deserve.
For those who work with or manage people who face these internal battles, the responsibility goes beyond creating opportunities. The real work lies in fostering environments where our visibility is embraced, where we can thrive without fear of being judged for being "too loud" or "too assertive." This means challenging your own biases, advocating for equity, and standing as allies when we feel unseen or unheard.
At the end of the day, what the world needs from us is not the silent, agreeable versions of ourselves we were told to be, but the bold, powerful, and authentic people we are today. Our creativity, our brilliance, and our lived experiences are invaluable, and the world is better when we show up fully.
So, to my fellow Black women and those from the global majority grappling with this tension, know that you are not alone in this journey. Let’s take up space. Let’s tell our stories. Let’s be seen. Not just because the world demands it, but because we deserve it.
Breaking the mold:
What old narratives about visibility do you need to let go of?
How can you step more boldly into your authentic self?
And how will you support others as they do the same?
The world is waiting. Let’s rise.
#Visibilitymatters #Livingboldly #Breakthemold #Globalmajorityvoices #Leadershipandequity #Beunapologetic #Representationmatters #Cultureshift #Inclusionmatters