Diversity brings strength. Diverse voices create growth. Diversity drives success.
And at the same time, it's important to remember that not everyone’s experience is the same. We must recognize that communities are not monolithic.
- One Black voice does not speak for all Black people
- One Queer person’s experience is not that of another Queer person’s
In our attempts to raise the voices of diversity, we must be careful not to amplify the voices that will negatively impact our purpose. We must be careful this isn’t done unintentionally.
Getting Clear on Who to Amplify
Know What a Diverse Voice Sounds Like
We want to lift diversity, and in the process, we want to avoid using the wrong examples. Being clear on who is here to support us is necessary. Who is disguising their agenda as the voice of diversity?
It’s like this. A well-known trans woman who considers herself an LGBTQIA+ advocate is amplifying her voice when she can. However, she opposes trans girls playing girls' sports and supports the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Many people in the LGBTQIA+ community do not agree with her on many issues. So, even though I’m actively looking to amplify diverse voices, which includes trans voices, her’s is a voice I would not amplify. Why? Ultimately, her views are problematic.
Furthermore, Republicans will take advantage of this, tokenizing her and her opinions. They will use her and her voice as “approval” from all of the LGBTQIA+ community to support their agendas. Support from the communities they are working against. Clearly, this does not represent the voice of the people at large.
My point is that just because you amplify the voice of someone who plays the part does not mean their intentions are true. We need to know their voices align with basic human rights. We need to see they are supportive, not a hindrance!
Be Clear on The Issues You Support
To really amplify the voices that will do the most good, we have to be clear on what issues matter most. Human rights issues. We must continuously assess who we associate with based on values. When their values aren’t aligned with the needs of others, they cause more harm than good.
For instance, during the 2016-2020 presidential era, many people let their true colors shine. Sadly, I had a guest on the FamilyPreneur podcast who, during this time, went “off the deep end,” so I removed her episode.
I could no longer support her. I could not stand behind the voice of a problematic person. My audience needs to know I would not intentionally introduce them to harmful people. If I make this mistake, I will do my absolute best to fix it.
Be clear on who you want to be around. I am very clear about my values on social media, my website, and in person. I hope to attract the right people and repel the wrong people. I research my potential guests and collaborators to ensure I am not amplifying problematic messaging. Not just anyone gets in, my friends.
3 Tips for Amplifying Diverse Voices
You want to find the RIGHT diverse voices. Here’s how:
- #1: First, find and listen to people who are new to you.
- Who are your friends and colleagues following?
- Use the social media search bar to find diverse accounts. Follow those that interest you and see who they collaborate with and share.
- Listen to diverse podcasts. The more you subscribe to, the more the platform will send you.
- #2: Engage and interact with your new “follows” on social media. Like, comment, and be a friend. Be you. It’ll be great!
- #3: Amplify diverse voices in the following unique ways:
- Liking and commenting on social media tells the algorithm the content is good so more people see it.
- Sharing the content spreads the word to your followers. (SHARE, don’t copy & paste! That’s stealing!)
- Invite these people to be a guest on your podcast, video, blog … whatever ya got! Just do the work first and know they’re a good fit for your values.
- Gotta love quotes! Use quotes in your content and cite the source so others can look them up too.
- Make it your policy to only speak at diverse events, podcasts, and videos. If someone wants you to speak, ask them who else they expect to show up. If they want you, they’ll seek out more diverse voices.
Check Your Voices
Now, take a look at the voices around you.
Who are you following? Whose voices, values, and thoughts are you hearing? Do values ring true with you? If not, it's time to re-evaluate.
As always, remember to subscribe to the blog, podcast, or YouTube, so you don’t miss the Just Marketing® episode … and before you post your next piece of content online, download this checklist to ensure you’re Just Marketing®!
