Your Silence is a Privilege

Silence is a privilege. Speaking up can save lives. Here’s why.

Have you ever taken bystander training or heard the phrase, “If you see something, say something?” These exist because silence is a choice—a choice not everyone has the luxury of making.

For some, speaking out is simply not an option. For many who have faced violence or belong to oppressed communities, speaking out has not always been a viable option. Fear, societal constraints, and concerns for personal safety create barriers to speaking up. However, for those who witness harm or suspect wrongdoing, silence is a privilege.

The Consequences of Silence

Poet and educator Clint Smith articulates the power of silence, reflecting on his own past inaction to help his students understand that choosing not to speak is, in itself, a privilege. We can all recall moments when we failed to challenge injustice—when we stood by rather than intervening, when we allowed harmful words or actions to go unchallenged.

Why do we hesitate in the face of wrongdoing? Is it fear of confrontation? A desire to blend in? Before we can answer these questions, we must acknowledge that remaining silent is often a matter of convenience. We have the ability to look away, to disengage, to avoid discomfort. For many, however, silence is not an option.

Many people remain silent out of fear—fear of retaliation, exclusion, or discomfort. But silence is not protection; it is complicity. We must examine why we hesitate to speak up. Are we afraid of being associated with marginalized communities? Are we prioritizing social acceptance over moral responsibility?

Whatever the reason, when we choose silence, we fail those who need us most. We signal to perpetrators that their behavior is acceptable and leave victims without support.

Silence is Complicity

• When you remain silent while friends make sexist jokes, your silence is complicity.
• When you say nothing as someone expresses racist views, your silence is complicity.
• When you laugh at an ableist remark despite knowing it is offensive, your silence is complicity.

When you are the target of such behavior, the silence of those around you can feel like an endorsement of your mistreatment. This is why speaking up is crucial. Your voice can challenge injustice, affirm the dignity of others, and set a precedent for accountability.

Change begins with conversation. But to create meaningful progress, we must be willing to start those conversations, even when they are uncomfortable.

How to Use Your Privilege and #SpeakOut

This philosophy is the foundation of the #SpeakOut campaign. Audre Lorde’s words—“Your silence will not protect you”—serve as a guiding principle for action.

Speaking out can be uncomfortable, but its impact is immeasurable. You never know what someone else is experiencing or how much your words might mean to them. When you challenge harmful rhetoric, you disrupt the cycle of normalization.

Your words may not change minds immediately, but they introduce doubt, challenge assumptions, and show that intolerance is not universal. When you #SpeakOut, you encourage reflection and, potentially, transformation.

This is the essence of the #SpeakOut movement. Silence does not protect us. Today’s indifference can become tomorrow’s oppression. It is time to step up, #SpeakOut, and embody the allyship we wish to see in the world.

Becoming a More Effective Ally

If you aspire to be a better ally, start by listening. Listen to those who face discrimination. Acknowledge their experiences. Take responsibility for any role—however unintentional—you may have played in perpetuating harm.

This process is neither easy nor comfortable, but it is essential. No one is exempt from the need to learn and grow—I have had to go through this process myself. Seek out and amplify the voices of marginalized individuals. Challenge prejudice when you encounter it. As someone with privilege, you have both power and responsibility. Use them wisely.

Now is the time to break the silence. Now is the time to #SpeakOut.