Ep 11: Black Voices, Brave Spaces - Surviving in a Sector That Claims to Do Good

The nonprofit world has a problem. Behind the mission statements about doing good lurks a troubling reality for many Black professionals—a world where they're expected to leave their authentic selves at the door just to survive.

Nneka Allen, founder of the Empathy Agency Inc. and co-author and editor of Collecting Courage, joins us for a conversation that cuts straight to the heart of racism in supposedly progressive spaces. When George Floyd's murder sparked widespread outrage, many Black people weren't shocked—they were watching white communities finally wake up to what they'd always known. As Allen eloquently explains, "If we reacted to every instance of racial violence we witnessed or experienced, we would be unwell." This powerful observation reveals how Black professionals develop survival mechanisms to function in a society where racial violence is commonplace, while also highlighting the severe mental health toll this constant vigilance exacts.

Allen also addresses the backlash against "wokeness" with startling clarity. "What's the opposite of woke?" she asks. "Blissful ignorance. Being asleep at the wheel." In exploring how organizations claim to be inclusive while maintaining white power structures, Allen challenges institutions that are "happy to have a Black caucus" but unwilling to fundamentally shift their culture. True change, she argues, requires more than diversity initiatives—it demands a redistribution of power.

Perhaps most moving is Allen's personal journey of rediscovering love for her Blackness while working and engaging with primary documents at a museum preserving the Underground Railroad history in Amherstburg, Ontario. Standing in spaces where her ancestors hid while seeking freedom, she experienced a profound connection that continues to fuel her activism today. "I feel like I must match their courage," she reflects, reminding us that understanding and embracing our history can be a powerful catalyst for creating change. 

This episode is more than a wake-up call—it’s a testament to the power of storytelling, truth-telling, and reclaiming identity. Through personal reflection, ancestral history, and unflinching honesty, Nneka reminds us that the path to justice isn’t just about systems—it’s about spirit. And when we ground ourselves in where we come from, we begin to imagine where we can go.