Luvvie Ajayi: Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
لوفي أياجي: الحصول على الراحة مع كونك غير مرتاح
Luvvie Ajayi is an author, speaker and digital strategist who thrives at the intersection of comedy, technology and activism. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
who refuse to do better,
as a shady Nigerian --
who is looking at other people,
better than we found it.
and by being the domino.
choiceless to do the same.
is inspired to be a domino.
أن يكون كحجر الدومينو.
looks like speaking up
كالتعبير عن نفسك
that are really difficult,
will follow suit.
I'm the person who says
but dared not to say.
that we're fearless,
people in the world
to be when I grew up.
أن أصبح عندما أكبر،
before it was a thing.
I had to take Chemistry 101
of my academic career.
is not going to work,
I started blogging.
another was beginning.
became my full-time job
to say, "I'm a writer."
before I said, "I'm a writer,"
to keep up my shoe habit?
the things that are our purpose.
dictate what I do."
awesome things started happening,
I was like, "OK, 2015,
of 'Do it anyway.'
I'm going to actively pursue it."
my first-ever solo vacation,
to the Dominican Republic.
the forests of Punta Cana.
I had on business casual.
submerged in water.
and swam with dolphins underwater.
that I did also that year
وقمت به تلك السنة
that I did that year
things in life. This is one of them."
as I see Earth, and I was like,
plane on purpose."
the best thing I could have done.
when I have to speak truth.
out of that plane.
when I'm at the edge of the plane,
فيها على حافة الطائرة.
because I realize I have to.
is comfort to me.
بالنسبة إلي.
that I'm speaking truth
who are bigger than me
more powerful than me,
they've been is comfortable.
is maintain the status quo.
على الوضع الراهن.
with being uncomfortable
when they're necessary.
that I have to speak these truths,
should be an option.
أن تكون اختيارا،
as a core value, and --
if we were more moisturized.
أكثر رطوبة.
as my core values,
مع كون هذه قيمي الأساسية،
the professional troublemakers,
committed to being these dominoes
of these acute consequences,
when we walk in rooms
powerful people in those rooms --
third-most powerful.
that our job in those times
the woman in the meeting,
who can't seem to get her word out,
who can't make a point
they have room for that.
is community business.
we're understand that,
we were somebody else's help.
tumbles and falls,
to speak at a conference,
ذوي البشرة البيضاء هناك،
who spoke there got compensated
got their travel paid for.
expected to actually pay to speak there.
كان عليهن الدفع،
about this publicly,
that my silence serves no one.
coming out to talk about,
this type of pay inequality."
about discriminatory pay practices
memoir by a public figure
than me and could impact my career,
على مسيرتي،
على حافة الطائرة
maybe for two hours."
"Publish," and I ran away.
I'm so glad somebody finally said this."
I guess, alright, it's doing something."
have been the domino
they've been assaulted by powerful men.
join in and say, "Me Too."
for igniting that movement.
to keep us exactly where we are.
comes down to being exactly who you are.
على طبيعتك.
since I was three.
even that's been the domino,
من متطلبات الدومينو،
that wants us to walk around
you're supposed to do this."
telling thoughtful truths --
should not be sacrificial, but they are.
لكنه كذلك.
to do this for the greater good,
than we are right now.
to telling truths to build bridges
لبناء جسور
on truth will collapse.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Luvvie Ajayi - CreatorLuvvie Ajayi is an author, speaker and digital strategist who thrives at the intersection of comedy, technology and activism.
Why you should listen
A 14-year blogging veteran, Luvvie Ajayi is the voice behind the blog AwesomelyLuvvie.com, where she covers all things pop culture with razor-sharp commentary and wit. Her debut book, I'm Judging You: The Do Better Manual, was released in September 2016, and was an instant New York Times best-seller.
Ajayi is Executive Director and co-founder of The Red Pump Project, a national nonprofit that educates women and girls of color about HIV/AIDS. They’ve earned a Congressional Record from the U.S. House of Representatives and Resolutions by the Illinois State Senate as well as the City Council of Chicago. The University of Illinois alum is a sought-after speaker who has spoken at the Obama White House, MAKERS Conference, SXSW, Social Media Week, among others. She has interviewed bosses like Oprah Winfrey, Geena Davis and Shonda Rhimes. She also runs AwesomelyTechie.com, a site for writers, small business owners and everyday people looking to use technology to make their lives easier as an extension of her marketing expertise.
Ajayi was selected to Oprah Winfrey’s inaugural Supersoul 100 list, voted as the Influencer of the Year at the 2016 Iris Awards and was chosen as a 2015 Black Innovator by XFINITY Comcast. She is committed to using her voice for pop culture critique and gender and racial justice.
Luvvie Ajayi | Speaker | TED.com