What is representation exactly?
You hear so much about it, you know it’s a big deal, and you know I’m always gonna celebrate it where I find it, but it’s more than just showing up to see Shang Chi even though that movie slaps, right?
The stuff we see on screens is a big part of it. As a kid and teenager, I was involved in plays, theatre and all kinds of stuff like that for over a decade. I don’t think I once got cast as a lead with any romance. I brushed it off, while also wondering if skin and appearance had something to do with it- it rarely feels like blatant discrimination- but there’s always a lingering question about how much you’re held back by not looking like what someone envisioned for a certain role.
Spoiler alert, things worked out pretty well for me in the romantic realm, I’d say! But still, I’m often aware that I need to jump through more hoops to make up for not looking like what someone expected.
I’ve been asked if I know of any speakers who could share about the topics I specifically specialize in speaking about. It never occurred to the person that the reason why there aren’t many well known speakers of color in that space is because we’re often asked if we “know of anyone” instead of if we could just do the job.
That’s why I think anyone who has a piece of marginalized identity within them can contribute to representation. You don’t have to be Simu Liu. Just think of any area your life intersects with where a kid who shares that identity doesn’t get the chance to see themselves very often.
Is it in the role of an inspiring spokesperson? A teacher? A performer? An elder who listens to kids and takes them seriously? A consistent and mindful parent?
This whole thing is about breaking expectations so it can feel like switch hitting against what I’ve been told humility should look like: shrinking yourself. Instead it’s rising, taking space, and taking others with you. And that’s where I see how someone can know their strengths and seek to let them shine in a way that’s more than humble: because you’re leaving the doors behind you open for others.
How to do Representation
