Description
The title "Unmute: Navigating Entrepreneurship as a Young, Black, and Unapologetically Ambitious Woman" encapsulates the essence of my book's theme and my personal journey.
"Unmute" signifies breaking the silence, a powerful act of speaking up and sharing experiences that have been suppressed or overlooked. It denotes empowerment, urging for my voice to be heard despite societal expectations or limitations.
The phrase "Navigating Entrepreneurship" suggests the challenges, hurdles, and triumphs faced in the world of business, particularly for someone like me, carving their path as a young entrepreneur.
The addition of "Young, Black, and Unapologetically Ambitious Woman" reinforces the intersectionality of my identity and experiences. It highlights the unique struggles and triumphs faced as a black woman in the entrepreneurial world, embracing ambition and determination in the face of adversity.
Overall, this title serves as a powerful representation of my journey, advocating for visibility, empowerment, and resilience in the entrepreneurial landscape.
This is my chance to articulate everything I couldn't express during my journey as an educational entrepreneur—a journey constrained by my youth, my race, and my gender. Being young, black, and a woman meant constantly monitoring my words and actions, always striving to uphold a certain image, cautious not to be anything but a respected black woman. Assertiveness in men was admired, but in me, it was often misinterpreted as attitude.
The world we live in is undeniably chaotic, revealing true colors and showcasing what I could potentially become, if that makes any sense at all. See, I warned you about not expecting anything fancy. But truthfully, this ongoing journey has taught me invaluable lessons and exposed me to harsh trials that I thought might shatter me. In hindsight, these experiences form the bedrock of my identity. Despite the pain, the losses, and the shifting perceptions, going through what I did was necessary.
So, why did I pick July 20th, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. to start penning this book? It's the influence of women I admire today—Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington, Michelle Obama, Angela Bassett, Oprah, and a whole roster of incredible women. Each shares her story, offering encouragement to empower girls like me, affirming that we are capable. I might have just constructed a run-on sentence, but are you catching my drift? I'm writing to share, to empower, and to remind myself that, "girl, you are a queen, and no matter what they call you, it's what and who you answer to"—a nod to Madea!