Speaking Up & Standing Out with Amyah Brooks
Did you know that women of color in leadership are often labeled as “disruptive” simply for asserting their voice? In this episode, we explore what it means to lead unapologetically, despite the barriers that seek to silence strong voices.
Listen to Amyah Brooks, a biracial Black woman, who is majoring in Political Science and Social Welfare and Justice at Marquette University. She talks about her journey on navigating identity, leadership, and advocacy. From confronting institutional challenges to carving out spaces of belonging, Amyah shares her insights on using her voice, embracing activism, and redefining leadership on her own terms.
How do you stand your ground and lead boldly when the very qualities that make you a great leader—passion, resilience, and a drive for justice—are the ones that make others uncomfortable? What does it mean to truly belong in spaces that weren’t designed with you in mind, and how can we learn from those who refuse to be silent?
If you’ve ever felt the tension between fitting in and standing out, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what it means to lead boldly and create change from within.
Episode Highlights:
03:44 - I've heard from certain administrators telling me about my own leadership, saying that sometimes it's better if I step away from my identity in order to lead. That comment has always stuck with me because I was questioning—what does it mean to step out of my identity to lead others? It felt like they wanted me to remove myself.
08:15 - The impact I want to have is helping people discover what they’re passionate about, find their voice, and know that they can do anything they set their mind to.
10:16 - My hope for my own future is to graduate from Marquette University. Then, I hope to continue a commitment to service while helping people. That’s been my main motivation for getting involved in politics—to change the culture of politics while keeping humanity at the center of it. I also hope to do more work within immigration law. A big goal of mine is to work at the U.S.-Mexico border directly. I’ve been fortunate to visit twice with Marquette and will be going again this spring break.
Interview:
What's the story you want to share with us today?
[01:18] Today, I just wanted to talk about a little bit of my time at Marquette.
How do you identify?
[01:37] I identify as a biracial Black woman.
Are you from Wisconsin?
[01:43] I'm from Appleton, Wisconsin.
What's it like growing up there?
[01:48] Growing up there, there's really not much to do. I kind of describe it as a quaint town, kind of like Gilmore Girls-esque.
So you're the Rory in this scenario?
[01:57] Yes.
Tell us about some of your adventures. What’s the journey? Share a bit of your journey to and through Marquette.
[02:10] Well, coming to Marquette, I was always really interested in going for political science. I had a big interest in high school with forensics, debate team, and civics. So I always thought I was going to major in political science and then be right on track for law school. But then I developed a big interest in education, which then shaped into social welfare and justice because I'm really passionate about learning about different social inequalities and how I can help solve them.
And you plan to do that as a lawyer? Are you still thinking about law school?
[02:47] I am still thinking about law school. I want to do a dual program for law school and completing my master's in social work.
So what do you envision yourself doing? How does that parlay itself into a particular career or focus? Is that like family law or what kind of law would that go into?
[03:06] I'm really interested in family law or immigration law. But currently, I am working as a caseworker intern at the International Institute of Wisconsin, and our main population is refugees.
What sort of challenges have you faced being a student here at Marquette? Or have you faced any challenges?
[03:27] I think some of the challenges are really just, in a sense, feeling discouraged and being forced to be silent.
So you have been silenced. Can you give us an example of when that might have occurred?
[03:44] I've heard from certain administrators telling me about my own leadership, saying that sometimes it's better if I step away from my identity in order to lead. That comment has always stuck with me because I was questioning—what does it mean to step out of my identity to lead others? It felt like they wanted me to remove myself. And then recently, I was told I am a 'disruptive student,' which put me on edge, making me feel like I needed to stay in my place to avoid being seen as too loud.
Now, do you think that's more of a critique on your racial identity or your gender identity, or is there some combination therein? Are we talking intersectionality?
[04:40] I think there is definitely intersectionality. But from how I see it, the major part of it is more race-based.
How does your identity inform the choices that you've made?
[04:52] I think my identity as being mixed-race or biracial very much informs my choices. I can fit in with any group, but I also know how it feels to be an outsider, even within the groups I'm part of. It really makes me want to be more inclusive and make everyone feel like they belong.
You've been pretty active on campus. What kinds of things have you been doing?
[05:18] I've been very involved with Marquette Student Government in the past, as well as campus ministry, Global Village, and different affinity groups. I’ve also been working on a recent project with Bryant Ewing called Involved at Marquette, which is an online discussion board aimed at bridging students together across different groups.
When you came to Marquette, was that your plan, that you were going to get as involved as possible? Or did you kind of just find yourself in and among some of these groups?
[05:57] I think I kind of just found myself in and among these groups. A big part of my identity is being outgoing, and I love talking with people and meeting different types of people. I think that's how I ended up being part of these different groups—just my curiosity to learn. And I feel like the best way to learn is through interaction.
Have there been some ways that the mural project has resonated with you or influenced the way you see yourself on campus?
[06:31] Yes, it definitely has. I remember even when I first toured Marquette, that mural stood out to me. It made me smile as I was touring, and I thought, Oh, that’s a beautiful mural. One way it’s resonated with me is by reminding me that I do belong here and that I should take up space on campus.
What would you say the impact of Marquette has been on women of color on campus?
[07:05] I think it can be challenging, of course. I won't say that it's easy, but I also think there's a duality—it's also extremely rewarding. Marquette has molded me to become a more critical thinker. It has challenged me in discovering who I really want to be and knowing that not everyone will agree with me—and that’s okay.
Who have been some of your inspirations? What women of color have served as inspiration for you?
[07:36] Some women who have definitely shaped my life—one in particular is my grandma. She’s a major role model for me. She introduced me to service, which has always been an integral part of my life, and that’s what drew me to Marquette. I also look up to Michelle Obama and AOC—they’re women I really admire now.
What kind of impact do you want to have on the women of color, students of color, faculty, and staff at Marquette and beyond?
[08:15] The impact I want to have is helping people discover what they’re passionate about, find their voice, and know that they can do anything they set their mind to.
You talked a little bit about you embraced letting go of things. What does that mean for you?
[08:44] For me, embracing letting go of things has been really freeing. I've learned in the past few months that letting go allows me to focus on the things I'm truly passionate about. It helps me hone in on discovering how I want to spend my time.
So is that about sort of winnowing out certain activities or is it a particular attitude in terms of what you're letting go of?
[09:14] It has been a mixture of both. I've let go of a lot of activities that were once very dear to me, but I’ve also shifted my attitude. Now, I focus on myself and on discovering—especially in my last semester—who I want to be. Am I just a reflection of how others view me, or how do I see myself? What impact do I want to have? I think I’ve found a newfound confidence in that.
When did we meet?
[09:59] My sophomore year.
What are your hopes for the future, your future, the future of Marquette, the future of the communities that you're involved in?
[10:16] My hope for my own future is to graduate from Marquette University. Then, I hope to continue a commitment to service while helping people. That’s been my main motivation for getting involved in politics—to change the culture of politics while keeping humanity at the center of it. I also hope to do more work within immigration law. A big goal of mine is to work at the U.S.-Mexico border directly. I’ve been fortunate to visit twice with Marquette and will be going again this spring break.
What did you do? Talk to people? What kinds of things did you do there? Was it merely observation?
[11:22] It was a mix of both. We talked to refugees, immigrants, and undocumented people, as well as organizations like NGOs. We also met with lawyers doing great work at the border, hearing about their experiences, and we even spoke with law enforcement.
What would you want our community to know about you and your journey?
[11:56] I want people to know that my journey is ever-changing. It’s very fluid. As I mentioned before, I truly do feel like a bit of a chameleon—I can always fit in, but sometimes it's important to stand out and not be afraid. You belong anywhere you decide you belong. It’s about making an active choice to search for spaces of belonging. No one is always going to be there to stick up for you—you have to advocate for yourself.
Contact Information:
http://www.marquette.edu/diversity/
Credits:
The Our Roots Say That We're Sisters Podcast series was recorded and produced by Podcast Town (www.podcasttown.net)
