Dare to Be Powerful
Make fear irrelevant.
The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” — Audre Lorde
When I first encountered this quote, I read it repeatedly. I kept reciting it in my mind like an NBA announcer would, complete with the microphone echo and the cheering crowd.
Eventually, my attention fixated on one word — powerful.
That was an adolescent version of me, headstrong yet curious. Despite my youth, I had already been on the ass-end of many an ass-kicking just for being different. All I knew of power was how it had been leveraged against me, my forebearers, and those I loved.
It was an obscure concept that didn’t quite resonate with me. Power felt like something other people possessed, and I needed to adapt and function without it.
Like many people, fear had become my constant anchor. An unwelcome houseguest that lingered around instead of heading home. When you’re young, sometimes you feel insecure and defenseless for no good reason. Fear became my measuring stick for threats at school, home, and in the margin where skin color sometimes placed me on the…