Do you want to amplify the story, or do you want to own it?
Is it about lifting up marginalized voices, or is it about how noble you are?
Is it about making space for the traumatized to share their own experiences, or being known as the only person speaking for them?
Is it about empowering people to tell their stories, or claiming to have the power to speak on their behalf?
Is it about letting them own their questions, solutions, frustrations & fears, or about making their stories easily palatable so you can sell an audio recording, a t-shirt, tickets to a show?
Are you a volunteer supporter of the work & those who depend on it, or are their fucking saviour, without whose service they'd somehow remain invisible?
Are you a loudspeaker for those who need promoting, or another voice taking their chance to speak from them?
Are you here because you care about what you can contribute to marginalized folks, or because it'd look good on your résumé to be here?
Do you give the communities you serve chances to be visible when they need a representative, or are you taking that microphone on their behalf?
Are you boosting the volume of those communities, or shouting over them?
Are you a steward within those communities, asking what they need or want, or are you claiming to know those things better than they do?
Is it about compassion, or is it about clout? Is it truly selfless, or is it performative?
