“No level of individual self-actualization alone can sustain the marginalized and oppressed. We must be linked to collective struggle, to communities of resistance that move us outward, into the world.”
– bell hooks
In my work helping folks from the dominant narrative do their part to create equitable and inclusive cultures of belonging, I stress the dual journeys of personal development and cultural competence.
To drive impact and affect change you must be on a continual path toward self-actualization – understanding who you are, why you care, what you value, and how you show up.
And, as bell hooks says, this journey cannot be undertaken in isolation. What good is your self-actualization if it is self-serving, disconnected from the lived realities and experiences of others?
If you truly care about the marginalized and oppressed you will also commit to strengthening your cultural competence.
You will learn, read, listen, watch, grow, immerse yourself in contexts and environments that are beyond your comfort zone.
You will do this without being asked, prompted, or told.
You will elevate your cultural competence because your power and privilege are too great to go unrealized.
You will elevate your cultural competence because the world demands that you do.