The Price of Nice: Why Comfort Keeps Us Stuck w/ Amira Barger

"I wrote the, The Price of Nice, because I was tired of being told to be palatable while I was busy out here in the world trying to be powerful." - Amira Barger

"Patriarchy tells you you're too much. Racism tells us we're not enough, and being a Black woman means living in that pressure cooker and yet still cooking up excellence." - Amira Barger

Summary:

In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, Niya Baxter sits down with communications executive, professor and author, Amira Barger to explore why being “nice” is costing Black women their power—and what it means to lead with nerve instead. From her childhood on the island of Guam to the boardrooms of Edelman, Amira unpacks how systems of racism and patriarchy intersect, how ambition has evolved from survival to liberation, and why it’s time to stop waiting for permission and start disrupting the status quo. This conversation is a powerful call to action for Black women to define success on their own terms—and build the tables we’ve been waiting for.

Keywords:

Black women, ambition, community, empowerment, equity, justice, leadership, liberation, The Price of Nice, personal growth

Takeaways:

Community was life growing up on Guam.

Ambition has evolved from survival to liberation.

Niceness is a tax we pay to maintain comfort.

True leadership often comes without titles.

We need to challenge the status quo for real change.

Empathy is crucial for collective responsibility.

You are the permission slip for your own success.

Liberation means dismantling oppressive systems.

Legacy is about laying foundations for future generations.

We must create our own spaces instead of waiting for permission.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Black Girl Ambition

01:55 Amira Barger's Unique Upbringing on Guam

04:30 The Influence of Community on Ambition

06:50 Exploring 'The Price of Nice'

12:53 The Antithesis of Nice: Embracing Nerve

16:33 Voting for Change: A Broader Perspective

17:47 Empathy and Selflessness in Ambition

19:02 The Evolution of Ambition

23:37 Empowering Others Through Ambition

26:54 Intersection of Patriarchy and Racism

28:44 Defining True Liberation for Black Women

30:28 Nerve Over Niceness: A Call to Action

32:02 Building Foundations for Future Generations

Reach out to Amira Barger to connect & pre-order her new book The Price of Nice!

Pre-order: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-price-of-nice-amira-barger/1147082932

Website: www.AmiraBarger.com

Social Media: @Amirabarger on IG, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube

Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :)

Join the BLKGirl Ambition community on IG and LinkedIn: @blkgirlambition

Stay in touch with me at @glamourgirlniya and @blkgirlambition

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