About The Book
In a world of increased focus on DE&I, one seldom hears about the topic that takes center stage in Lift Every Voice: accent bias. Through compelling narratives and heartfelt accounts, Lift Every Voice brings to life the poignant stories of dreamers whose accents mark them as outsiders.
This eye-opening book not only fosters a deeper understanding about the insidious nature of accent bias but also equips readers with practical tools to combat and challenge such prejudices. Lift Every Voice empowers all to embrace their authenticity and celebrate the rich tapestry of global voices.
Dedicated to the dreamers, who find themselves on the periphery, judged not by their words but by the nuances of their pronunciation.
My Journey
As a Senegalese immigrant in the U.S., I’ve personally experienced the stings of accent bias. More heartbreaking, was watching my mother, a trilingual, deeply intellectual woman who came here with a dream in her heart and an accent in her voice, be disregarded or dismissed because of the deep, rich, Sene/Francophone accent that made her pronunciation bounce like the rhythmic symphony of the Tam-Tam drums.
I also watched others struggle to understand her and yet listen with curiosity, patience and compassion. Overtime, they began to communicate seamlessly with one another. Watching this social ballet of judgments being made due to the pronunciation of words inspired my TEDx Talk: Deconstructing the Color of Language.
One of my main life missions has been to honor my mother’s sacrifice of leaving all she knew to build a new world for us. Today, I am a public speaking coach, a global speaker, and a consumer insights leader in the Tech industry. Throughout my journey, the accent in my voice began to fade; however, what has never faded are the touching stories of family, friends, colleagues, and conference attendees from all over the world who have felt dismissed, passed over, and developed deep insecurities due to their accent. At its core, Lift Every Voice is a beacon of hope for all those who have felt the sting of this discrimination. Speech is power, so when you speak, SPEAK PROUDLY.
