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What’s one area in your life where you are letting short-term goals get in the way of long term aspirations?

Where in your world are you working hard to find your voice?

What if you simply allowed yourself to do what is being called from you and speak what is naturally being called to be said, how would that impact the way you show up? Also, how would it contribute to your mission?

Is there a cause that you are passionate about and you would like to eradicate?

What would that process look like for you?

Where do you thrive at and what might be hindering you sharing it with the world?

What’s stopping you from shaping your world as you desire?

In a solo Real Time Real Talk episode of the Outlier's Edge Podcast, Niiamah Ashong takes on a response he hears often: it's not his job to educate people about racism. His question is whose job it is, then, when people raise their hands to understand more and want to act. What emerged is an invitation for people further along to welcome newcomers into the conversation, so more people feel comfortable using their privilege and power to make change.

Episode at a glance

• Host: Niiamah Ashong, coach to outlier leaders
• Show: Outlier’s Edge Podcast, released August 3, 2020
• Format: session, 20 minutes
• Topics: Whose job it is to educate, Supporting people who raise their hands, Being one of the few, What people can do, on three levels, Getting it done over the right way, Showing up before being ready

What this session is about

Niiamah Ashong's idea starts with a line he hears from people of every skin color: it's not his job or his responsibility to educate others about racism. He asks who, then, supports the people who raise their hands, whether they're beginners, still find it feels a little dangerous, or want to go deeper. As a Black man who is consistently one of the few in most things he does, he often hears friends say they can finally have this conversation with someone, and he says he doesn't have three plus years for people to figure it out on their own. His proposal is that people further along, including his white friends, take it on themselves to educate others and welcome them into the conversation.

What emerged

The central shift is from sending people off to educate themselves toward actively welcoming them in. Niiamah Ashong points to a friend who, after one of their conversations, opened the door for people in her own world to have that conversation with her. His aim is to accelerate people feeling comfortable being who they are and leveraging their privilege and power in whatever system they're in, because, in his words, this thing is everywhere. He closes by choosing to show up when it feels risky and before he's ready, and invites viewers to push back.

Questions this episode answers

If it's not a Black person's job to educate others about racism, whose job is it?

Niiamah Ashong hears it's not his job often enough that he asks who, then, will help the person who wants to go deeper, and what help that person needs. He'd like people further along to take that on and welcome newcomers in, because he needs people on board as quickly as possible.

What do people mean when they ask what they can do about racism?

Niiamah Ashong hears the question on several levels: a friend saying they've got his back, someone angry or excited who wants to go do something about it, and someone who sees an ongoing issue and wants a systematic approach. He notes that ally training says to look to the people affected for leadership, while it can be hard to find someone who will say what the answer is.

What role can white friends play in educating others about racism?

Niiamah Ashong looks to his white friends to educate other white friends and take risks, because by the nature of their skin they tend to have more power and privilege. He'd love to see someone welcome people who are just joining the conversation and give them space to say the dumb stuff, listen to themselves and catch their own contradictions.

Does inclusion work need to be done the right way?

Niiamah Ashong recalls asking, years earlier, why inclusion feels so exclusive, since there seems to be a right way to do it all. He says he's not about the right way to get it done; he's about getting it done.

In their words

I need you to come on board as quickly as possible.

Niiamah Ashong

There's work to be done. What is the work that needs to get done and how can we help?

Niiamah Ashong

I'm choosing to show up before I'm ready.

Niiamah Ashong

Key moments

00:34 – Holding space for stories of racism

02:36 – Then whose job is it?

03:39 – Consistently one of the few

05:13 – No time to wait three years

08:20 – What people can do, three levels

10:54 – How pervasive racism is

13:24 – Getting it done over the right way

15:26 – White friends educating white friends

15:59 – Welcoming newcomers into the conversation

19:00 – Showing up before he's ready

About Niiamah Ashong

Niiamah Ashong is a coach to outlier leaders, host of the Outlier’s Edge Podcast, and founder of the Trailblazer Collective. He coaches leaders who are creating something only they can make: a company, a body of work or a movement. Make a difference with your difference.

Work with Niiamah: 1:1 with Niiamah | World of Difference

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