I had the privilege of speaking to students in two classes at Howard University yesterday. Their gifted and forward-thinking instructor, Wakeelah Mutazammil, asked me to talk to them about my internet radio show, Say It By Heart, and how web-based communication is helping more people -- particularly African Americans and other people of color -- share their point of view with the world.
Wakeelah called it Taking Agency, which we defined in class as our power to be change agents by being "one through which something is accomplished."
It is empowering to share how we feel, what we think and what we have accomplished (or would like to accomplish) without always having to leap through the flaming hoops of most established media. That can be especially significant for people of color, because our experiences and the ways we may want to express them don't readily fit into the definitions of acceptable or mass-market-profitable content for those who own and operate most media outlets. Not to mention the fact that there are only so many outlets anyway.
It is also empowering to use our web presence to advocate for issues we support, build our businesses and help those we are connected to do the same. And all of this on our own terms.
I loved the engagement and enthusiasm of the students! Many wanted to work for newspapers and magazines. There were musicians, filmmakers (Damien Coor mentioned he and his partner's website, as well as another student's Paul Robeson Award nomination), an actress and one who said he wanted to open a Gentleman's Club. Another student is a gifted hair and makeup artist. A student who knew that he wanted to teach and inspire was himself inspired (I know I was) when another student affirmed his natural gift for speech pathology.
I took the opportunity to tell them that they should take advantage of internships, and don't just stand around and be told step-by-step what to do. Take agency by showing some initiative, and let those you're working with know your interests.
As for the web, I was happy to learn that most of the students were already actively using it. Most college students these days are so tech savvy! I encouraged them to not just socialize, immediately start taking agency. Register a domain name using their name or some derivative of it, if possible, and use whatever web presence they have "to be one through which something is accomplished."
Overall, I felt that most of them actively used the greatest skill of all great communicators. They listened. For that, I am most grateful.
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