Nneka Allen opens our conversation with a profound declaration: she's a "reluctant entrepreneur" whose path to founding the Empathy Agency Inc emerged from confronting the very real inequities Black people face within the charitable sector. As a proud descendant of African survivors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, her perspective comes from personal history and professional experience spanning over two decades.
What makes this episode particularly compelling is Nneka’s ability to express complex ideas about race with clarity, conviction, and unfiltered truth—especially when she says, “Black women are ground zero in times of crisis, and when white people feel pain, Black people pay the price.” She introduces the concept of “brave spaces” rather than “safe spaces” for conversations about racism, explaining that these dialogues are inherently uncomfortable and risky—but necessary for growth. She also shares the intention behind her bi-weekly Afro-centric gathering, Exhale for Black Women, where Black women can come together without navigating white judgment or expectations, particularly as employment conditions become increasingly precarious.
Perhaps most revealing is Nneka's challenge to Canada's carefully cultivated international image. While many Canadians pride themselves on multiculturalism and distance themselves from America's racial problems, Nneka methodically dismantles this narrative in our conversation and in her co-authored book, Collecting Courage. She explains how Canada's 200-year history of slavery has been effectively erased through marketing campaigns. Unlike America's current attempts to suppress a documented history through attacks on critical race theory, Canada faces a different challenge—profound ignorance about its own racist past.
The power of storytelling emerges as a central theme throughout our conversation. Collecting Courage features first-person accounts from Black fundraisers across North America, documenting experiences that challenge the presumed moral superiority of charitable organizations. As she powerfully states, "First-person narratives are the stuff of history"—and control over these narratives shapes public understanding.
Does empathy have limits when confronting systemic racism? Can conflict actually strengthen relationships? How do we recognize when "respect" and "professionalism" are being weaponized to silence necessary conversations? These questions and more await in this thought-provoking episode.
Listen now and join us for part two, where we'll explore activism in the social media age and hear Nneka's moving story of walking in her ancestors' footsteps.
Follow Nneka's work:
Website: https://www.theempathyagency.ca/meet-the-founder
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/nnekaallen.bsky.social
Substack: https://substack.com/@nnekaallen
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