What I Learnt from My Interview With Chioma Agwuegbo
What I learnt from this interview is to listen. At some point during the interview, I realised I might have been talking too much. The process of even listening to myself listening is so powerful.
It has taken me a while, because I always found it accusatory whenever someone says ‘oh! you’re a person of great power and privilege', and so, you should take responsibility; you should be conscious of your actions. Because I’m usually like ‘I’m just trying to do my best’.
During the interview, however, I just thought, as men, we just come born with privilege — We don’t have to worry about our genitals being cut in order to limit our sexuality, we don’t have to worry about a driver taking us somewhere and having their way with us. As a result, there are things we are not aware of, and can not be aware of logically — intellectually. It comes from listening in humility.
Also — and this is the part that I figured out — we have to be prepared to be uncomfortable. The discomfort is a part of this process, especially for us who think we are allies — the good guys — those of us who want a participation trophy. That’s not what this is about. This is about real change.
Listen and be ready to be uncomfortable.
This change has just started, and this is how society gets better.
Quote for the day
“Sometimes what's ‘not working’ has zero to do with you. Accept that which you can and cannot control, and keep the faith while doing the best that you can.” — Adaora Mbelu
Video of the day
Dr. Maya Angelou on Loving and Letting Go.