I have not always been the kind of person to speak up in public or in a class setting. On the rare occasions when I would raise my hand, I would have to be 100 percent certain I knew the answer. If called on to give an opinion, I would not speak with any kind of confidence.
In recent years, I’ve been learning that staying silent is costly, even though speaking up costs something, too. And I haven’t always done it well. In an effort to speak my mind, I have sometimes shut down someone else, or when I’ve been unwilling to take the risk, I’ve let my words churn inside of me until I’m anxious and stressed on the inside.
This is why Kathy Khang’s new book is necessary reading for people like me (and others who are trying to give voice to what they believe). Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up is a useful, practical book in the “say anything” culture in which we find ourselves. Khang comes alongside those of us who might be hesitant to speak up or who are new to finding and using our voice in the social arena and shows us how to do both with grace and right motives.
I like how the book is structured to first address the reasons we stay silent and then gives us ways to speak up that are humble and practical. Never did it feel like the author was demanding that we speak up. The words “raise your voice” can be terrifying for a shy introvert, but Khang is a voice of encouragement and passion that makes me want to use my voice more and better.
Of the book’s 160 pages, I flagged close to half for quotes I found helpful or thought-provoking. Since I can’t share all of them with you, here are a couple of favorites.
On knowing ourselves before we speak up: “We are all children of God, and diversity is a part of that unity–not conformity or assimilation. Knowing who you are helps you deal with all of the different people you will meet, especially during those times when you’re speaking out or challenging them. Knowing who you are also helps you recognize everyone else’s humanity.” (p. 57)
On using our voice in social media: “We must not confuse using courage to speak up with responding in cowardice by lashing out because the medium affords us a degree of anonymity.” (p. 115)
On the reason behind using our voice: “Speaking up is always about the gospel–speaking and painting a picture of truth, wholeness, and hope.” (p. 130)
Khang doesn’t promise that speaking up about important issues will change the world or come without hardship. She’s honest about how it’s the opposite sometimes–maybe no one will change and you’ll suffer social backlash–and encourages readers to do it anyway, with the right motivation.
I have so much to learn, and Raise Your Voice sets me on a path toward that goal.
(Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher. Review reflects my personal opinions.)