There is a lot of madness being revealed to us. Not just now but for the last 10 years.

Before we get into things let’s breathe together. Inhale slowly. Hold it. Slowly release. Ah, that’s a little better. 

Note: This one is for my BIPOC communities. For perspective and resources for allies check out my other post.

I wanted to take a breathe and I'm holding your hand as I say all this because this one might piss some people off. I get it. But I need to say it anyway. We need to stop settling for "a seat at the table" and shallow acts of "representation." Representation feels a little too convenient.

Now there are a lot of layers to address here more than I could fit in one blog post. I also want to clearly acknowledge that there have long been people who have highlighted the problem with celebrity culture and idolizing public figures.

We call them divisive, jealous, and wrong. They were right too early. They were too loud for our fragile egos. 

Powerful people from marginalized groups have consistently failed to follow through on their promise to care for our communities yet I still keep seeing this repeated call, and praise, for representation. Wanting diverse representation isn’t inherently problematic, but calling for it without identifying additional pillars for that power is irresponsible. It’s lazy. It’s why we are trapped in this cycle of looking for people to save us. 

We’ve been misled to think that representation alone will restore power to our communities of color. Misled to believe that channeling collective power toward a select few BIPOC people we will see that power restored to us after centuries of oppression. 

What this previous decade has revealed is that’s not true. We can look at major figures like political officials (on all sides), celebrities, gurus, and influencers and see people who look like us but talk like them. I don’t mean code switching. I mean the message they convey. The silence they offer when they could choose to take a stand. The agreement they so obviously make to push forward a harmful status quo as long as means they get their slice of the pie. Even if it means everyone else gets crumbs. 

We, the people, allow this. In fact we champion it. We say, we cannot expect too much because they rose to power against so many odds. We say to hold them accountable is to unjustly demand perfection. We compare the lack of accountability for white leaders and say "we should get to be unaccountable too!" We say it’s unfair to expect powerful people to use their platform to take meaningful action. That these people who our time, energy, and money have helped propel to power have no obligation to us. We say they are not like us, they are better, and we have to understand. 

When the selected few do choose to speak up once (usually once it’s easy and with little consequence). Even if there’s no meaningful action behind it we kiss the ground they walk on. We cling to the most mediocre of actions and point to them every time our chosen ones face any kind of criticism. They never even have to advocate for themselves because the fan base will do it for them.

I emphasize fan base. We are fans who want to believe we are in community when really we are in worship. 

This happens on the micro level too. We identify people in our families and neighborhoods who are on track to transcend poverty and struggle. We channel the collective hope, dreams, and power to uplift them. We don’t bother with our own purpose or work because we believe the lie that only a few of us can make it. So we willingly hand it all over to them hoping to one day be saved by the lawyer, the doctor, the CEO, or professor. We ask they don’t forget where they came from but we don’t hold them to it when they get where they’re going. 

We have told ourselves that it is enough of a win to have someone at the top that looks like us. We believe that there is scarce opportunity so we have to settle for this. That we can only ever experience a sense of purpose and success when it's reflected to us by the chosen few.

Colonialism and capitalism bolster this lie. It makes things easier for them. These systems recognize our power more than we do. If they can sell us on representation alone they don't have to offer the whole pie to everyone - including the “non-excellent.”

They prey on the fear and ambition that exists within "excellent" few to get them on board with the program. The money. The influence. The feeling of being relevant to the masses. Then they profit off of us again by making representation a trend. An empty ad campaign. A pretty illusion to get us inside where they can take us for all we’ve got. This is where they convert us into fans whose money goes right into the hands of our “representatives” who invest that money right back into the system. 

We are settling for a seat at the table experienced vicariously through a powerful few where the agenda remains the same. Representation can help keep momentum going, it can inspire hope and action but we can't stop there.

Representation alone is image. It’s brand management. It’s an idea without the infrastructure.

It’s a direct pipeline back into the systems that subjugate us. 

What creates actual progress requires framework. Requires self-empowerment and liberation. Requires accountability and integrity. 

It’s ironic the idea of representation. That as people of color we are constantly battling the white idea that we can be reduced to a monolith. That we are not all the same. Yet we subscribe to the idea that having people who share our cultural background will somehow represent our whole population. We ignore the implications of class and values. We’re willing to permit all kinds of transgressions for it too. We excuse the harm caused by leaders of color saying that concessions against humanity are needed to achieve the “greater” good. Greater to whom? That’s the program of the colonizer. The language of oppression that fools us into the concept of a lesser evil. Into scarcity. 

Here is the secret: everyone is a leader and a follower. We each have roles to play, a time to play them and a place to take action. We don’t pick one leader for good and be done with it. Revolution is intentional and interconnected. Revolution not reform. Reform is the program of the colonizer. The language of oppression that tricks us into believing we shouldn’t dare dream bigger. 

Representation is one step of the program and it’s not even step one.

Step one is creating a foundation. The foundation is built from identifying shared values and goals.

Step two is building infrastructure. Building infrastructure requires each members unique skill set and perspective. It requires us to own our power and have clarity on how we use it.

Step THREE is representation. Selecting who will represent these interests in different arenas. Someone who may be the leader in the courtroom will be a follower in the healing space and so on.  No one knows everything and that is okay.

Step four is maintenance. Maintenance of the movement requires accountability checks. Checking that we are collectively acting in accordance with our values. Speaking up when we are not. Strategizing ways to bring us back into alignment with them. Checking when the values are shifting  as we develop knowledge and wisdom. 

Representation is a piece of the puzzle not the whole game.

Viewing representation as the final stop is why movements stall. Idolization is why our favs become flops and we feel so disheartened by their humanity. All the pressure has been applied to get butts in seats so that when they get there we just kinda watch waiting for them to do something when none of us are actually on the same page of what that something is.

There's the people who want impactful action while the "excellent" few are only willing to offer hallow performance and feigned activism.

Representation alone is individualism and elitism in a cute outfit. It’s a recipe for the ego to run rampant. It's not always harmful but it is often incomplete.

Collaborative representation paired with a strong foundation, a sturdy infrastructure, and consistent maintenance is a movement. 

The world is changed by movements. Movements are made up of people. We don't need celebrities or heroes to make that happen. We only need each other.

Reflection Questions for Deeper Work:

1. What does representation mean for me in the professional, political, artistic, and social context?

2. Where did I first learn of the importance of representation?

3. What makes for "good" representation? What kind of action, values, behavior?

4. What public figures have made me proud lately and why? Who has disappointed me lately and why?

5. Which public figures do I feel represent me culturally, politically, and socially? How do they align with my values? How do I know this?

6. Think of the last time a public figure you like who made a statement or took a stance on an important issue. How has the rest of their actions, behavior, and investments aligned with their words?

7. How do I choose to represent my community?

8. What does accountability look like in my community, family, or friendships? What is our foundation of values?