From Margins to Power: How the 99.5% Can Flip the Script on Inequity

In partnership with

The Colours of Identity

My life has always been painted in layers of colour, culture, and complexity. Growing up in Ghana, I learned early on that my cocoa-brown complexion was more than skin deep—it carried histories, assumptions, and unspoken hierarchies.

When my family moved to the UK, the labyrinth of identity became even more intricate. As a Black, gay, neurodivergent man, my intersections often collided with systems that were not designed to celebrate difference. In classrooms, I was the "exceptional minority," applauded for being articulate but subtly reminded that I was an outsider. These microaggressions were not just personal; they reflected broader patterns of exclusion.

Those experiences planted the seeds for my mission to empower the Intersectional Majority—the 99.5% of us whose lives are shaped by overlapping systems of privilege and marginalisation. Through the Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) framework, a comprehensive approach that combines cultural awareness, social justice principles, and personal empowerment strategies, I offer a roadmap for reclaiming our narratives, building resilience, and transforming systems that were never designed for us to thrive.

This mission is the foundation of my upcoming book, The Intersectional Majority: Leading the Way to Inclusive Futures, where I delve deeper into the frameworks and strategies that help individuals and organisations embrace equity, rewrite limiting narratives, and create a future where everyone belongs.

But this isn’t just my story. It’s your story, too. Together, we stand at the intersections of privilege and oppression, holding the power to rewrite the narrative and lead the way to equity.

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The Privilege Pyramid: Mapping Our Experiences

The Privilege Pyramid visualises the layered inequities that shape our lives. It’s not a tool of blame but of awareness—a way to see where we stand and how we can rise together. By recognising the dynamics of privilege and marginalisation, we empower ourselves to identify opportunities for change and create pathways to equity.

To better understand this concept, here’s an infographic that illustrates the layers of the Privilege Pyramid, from the Privileged Core to the Intersectional Majority:

The Three Layers of the Privilege Pyramid

1. The Privileged Core

   • A small group with disproportionate access to resources, power, and influence.

   • Think of corporate leadership, where cisgender white men dominate despite decades of DEI initiatives.

2. The Middle Layers

   • Those with situational privilege—able to access specific opportunities but still navigating systemic barriers.

   • Picture a woman of colour in middle management, breaking glass ceilings but hitting walls of bias.

3. The Intersectional Majority

   • The foundation of our societies—marginalised yet resilient.

   • This group includes individuals navigating intersecting barriers like racism, ableism, and poverty, yet their collective strength drives change.

Flipping the Script: Transforming Marginalisation into Power

Transforming marginalisation into power is not just an empowering act; it is necessary to disrupt systems of inequity that perpetuate exclusion and systemic harm. Flipping the script allows marginalised communities to reclaim distorted narratives and build equitable structures celebrating diverse identities. Without this transformation, the cycle of oppression remains intact, hindering societal progress and individual growth.

1. Storytelling as a Tool for Liberation: Addressing Challenges

Personal storytelling holds immense power to dismantle systemic inequities and inspire action. Movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter demonstrate how collective narratives can unveil hidden truths and galvanise change. However, storytelling also comes with risks, particularly for individuals from marginalised communities who may face privacy violations, backlash, or emotional distress.

Why It’s Necessary: Sharing stories is crucial to counteract dominant narratives that often erase or misrepresent marginalised voices. By reclaiming their experiences, individuals can inspire empathy, challenge biases, and build solidarity.

How to Navigate Risks:

• Establish clear boundaries about what to share and what to protect.

• Use platforms with built-in safety measures, such as moderated forums or community events.

• Collaborate with organisations that prioritise safeguarding to ensure a supportive storytelling environment.

Example: A gay activist who blogged about their coming-out journey later partnered with a mental health organisation to guide balancing vulnerability with safety, helping others to share their stories responsibly.

2. Collective Action: Emphasising Self-Care and Sustainability

Grassroots organising is a powerful mechanism for addressing systemic gaps, from community-led food banks to advocacy networks that challenge structural inequities. However, this work's emotional and physical demands can lead to burnout if self-care is neglected.

Why It’s Necessary: Marginalised communities often operate without institutional support, filling critical gaps left by systemic neglect. Collective action becomes not just a survival strategy but a powerful force for systemic change, uniting us in our shared mission.

Embedding Self-Care in Activism:

• Incorporate wellness practices, such as group mindfulness sessions, into organising efforts.

• Rotate leadership roles to distribute responsibilities and prevent exhaustion.

• Normalise breaks and fosters a culture where rest is celebrated as a revolutionary act.

Example: A local food justice initiative created “Wellness Wednesdays,” where volunteers participated in yoga sessions, enjoyed shared meals, and accessed mental health resources. This approach rejuvenated individuals and strengthened their sense of community and purpose.

3. Empowered Allyship: Acknowledging the Ongoing Journey

Allyship is not a one-time act of support but an ongoing learning, unlearning, and growth journey. Allies play a critical role in amplifying marginalised voices, and we value your ongoing commitment to this work.

Why It’s Necessary: Marginalised communities cannot dismantle systemic barriers alone. Allies with privilege have access to platforms and resources that, when combined with the expertise of those with lived experience, can create systemic shifts.

Key Principles of Evolving Allyship:

• Commit to active listening, prioritising understanding over immediate solutions.

• Educate yourself on systemic inequities and challenge your own biases regularly.

• Welcome constructive criticism and use feedback as a tool for growth.

Example: A corporate leader initially engaged in performative allyship by organising token events for Black History Month. After receiving feedback from marginalised employees, they implemented ongoing DEI training, created mentorship programs, and committed to sustained accountability measures.

Acknowledging Challenges in Flipping the Script

While transforming marginalisation into power is vital, it is not without obstacles. Recognising these challenges ensures a realistic and sustainable approach to change.

• Resistance from Systems of Power: Efforts to challenge the status quo often provoke backlash from those who benefit from existing inequities. This resistance can be systemic inertia, microaggressions, or direct opposition.

• Emotional Fatigue: The emotional labour of confronting inequities and sharing personal stories can be draining. Without adequate support, individuals may feel overwhelmed.

• Internal Tensions Within Movements: Coalition-building across diverse intersections can sometimes lead to conflicts or differing priorities. These tensions must be navigated with empathy and a shared commitment to equity.

Actionable Steps: Strategies for Transformation

1. Reframe Limiting Beliefs

Marginalisation often instils narratives of unworthiness or limitation. Recognising and reframing these internalised beliefs is a decisive first step in reclaiming agency.

How to Begin:

• Develop “I Am…” affirmations to reinforce resilience and potential.

• Reflect on past achievements to anchor self-confidence.

Example: A woman of colour navigating a predominantly white workplace replaced the limiting belief, “I don’t belong here,” with the affirmation, “I am a trailblazer, paving the way for greater inclusion.”

2. Build Intersectional Coalitions

Effective change requires collective action that embraces the diversity of experiences and identities. Intersectional coalitions amplify the power of shared goals while comprehensively addressing systemic inequities.

How to Strengthen Coalitions:

• Foster dialogues across communities to identify common goals while respecting unique challenges.

• Create equitable decision-making processes to ensure all voices are valued.

Example: A coalition advocating climate justice brought together Indigenous activists, low-income communities, and urban youth to highlight how environmental degradation disproportionately impacts marginalised groups.

3. Take Ownership of the Narrative

Marginalisation often results in communities being spoken about rather than spoken with. Reclaiming this narrative is an act of resistance and empowerment.

How to Take Action:

• Leverage platforms like podcasts, blogs, or digital storytelling tools to amplify authentic voices.

• Organise storytelling circles that celebrate diverse experiences and foster mutual understanding.

Example: A storytelling project in a refugee community used video diaries to document their members’ resilience and aspirations, shifting public perception from one of victimhood to one of strength.

"Your intersectional identity is a kaleidoscope—each turn reveals new patterns of strength and beauty."

Discover Your Intersectional Cultural Identity and Mindscape™: A Tool for Self-Discovery

The "Discover Your Intersectional Cultural Identity and Mindscape™" assessment is your starting point for understanding the intersections shaping your life.

What the Assessment Reveals

1. Building Awareness of Your Identity

   • Reflect on the overlapping layers of your race, gender, ability, and culture.

   • Actionable Insight: Journaling prompts like "What parts of my identity feel most meaningful to me?" can deepen your self-awareness.

2. Understanding Your Beliefs

   • Identify and reframe limiting narratives into empowering ones.

   • Example: Transform "I’m not enough" into "I am growing stronger daily."

3. Connecting with Your Story

   • Explore how your cultural background shapes your values and worldview.

   • Actionable Insight: Research your heritage and integrate traditions into your daily life.

4. Building Resilience

   • Resilience isn’t inherent—it’s cultivated. The assessment offers tools to grow stronger through small, intentional steps.

From Awareness to Action: Connecting the Pyramid to Solutions

Understanding your position within the Privilege Pyramid isn’t just about awareness—it’s about action. Here’s how to bridge the gap between understanding and empowerment:

1. Leverage Privilege with Purpose

   • Privileged individuals can amplify marginalised voices and challenge inequity.

   • Story: One client, a white executive, used their position to mentor employees of colour, transforming privilege into allyship.

2. Build Intersecting Coalitions

   • Effective change comes from solidarity across identities.

   • Example: Collaborations between LGBTQ+ and racial justice organisations demonstrate how shared goals can dismantle systemic barriers.

3. Advocate for Structural Change

   • Use policy advocacy to target inequities and create systemic solutions.

Personal Stories: Intersectional Power in Neurodiversity

Growing up, my dyslexia often felt like an insurmountable obstacle. Teachers misinterpreted my challenges as laziness, and I began to internalise those limiting narratives. Reading academic texts felt overwhelming, usually requiring me to reread passages multiple times while writing demanded a painstaking process of piecing together and reorganising my thoughts. The constant struggle with these tasks left me feeling inadequate and frustrated.

A pivotal shift came when I reframed my neurodivergence as a strength rather than a limitation. Instead of focusing on traditional learning methods, I tapped into my creativity, pattern recognition, and problem-solving abilities. I developed tools like visualisation techniques—“painting a picture in my head” to make abstract ideas concrete. These methods helped me process information and enhanced my ability to approach challenges from innovative angles.

My diagnostic report highlighted key strengths, such as interpersonal skills, creative problem-solving, and resilience, which became foundational to my journey. I learned to embrace tools like mind maps and audio resources, transforming how I approached learning and problem-solving. These strategies now underpin the Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™) framework, empowering others to discover and utilise their unique strengths.

“Your intersectional identity, including neurodivergence, is a kaleidoscope—each turn reveals new patterns of strength, resilience, and beauty.”

Dyslexia became a lens through which I cultivated empathy, innovation, and leadership. It taught me that every challenge carries hidden superpowers waiting to be unlocked. Today, I celebrate the differences that once made me feel excluded, using them as a foundation to inspire and empower others to rewrite their narratives.

My journey is a testament to the transformative power of reframing challenges. By embracing neurodiversity, we can unlock potential, foster growth, and create lasting change.

Resilience in Marginalised Communities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Black London neighbourhood faced health inequities and economic instability. The community organised food banks and mental health support networks through grassroots action, turning adversity into collective strength. This story underscores the power of the Intersectional Majority to create systemic change.

The Intersectional Futuristic Vision: Reimagining Well-Being

Imagine a future where intersectional identities are celebrated, not marginalised. Intersectional futurism offers a blueprint for blending cultural heritage with technological innovation, creating spaces where mental health becomes a source of empowerment.

"Your healing journey is like a phoenix rising—burning away limiting narratives to reveal the brilliance within."

Call to Action: Join the Movement

This article isn’t just a narrative—it’s a manifesto. The Intersectional Majority is a movement fueled by your stories, resilience, and advocacy.

• Take the Assessment: Begin your journey of self-discovery and resilience.

• Share Your Story: Use your voice to inspire systemic change.

• Join the Conversation: Connect with others by using #IntersectionalMajority on social media.

"Let’s rewrite the narrative together. Your story is the key to building a more equitable future."

About the Author

Jarell Bempong is an award-winning thought leader, ICC Therapist, and Coach, internationally celebrated for pioneering transformative frameworks that are reshaping leadership, mental health, and workplace equity. As the visionary behind Intersectional Cultural Consciousness™ (ICC™), Intersectional Futurism™, The Intersectional Majority, and The Privilege Core, Jarell empowers individuals and organisations to navigate identity complexities, power dynamics, and systemic inequality.

With an unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and resilience, Jarell has become a key figure in the global movement for equitable organisations. His cutting-edge frameworks offer practical, actionable strategies that integrate cultural consciousness into leadership, organisational culture, and mental health approaches. Through this work, Jarell challenges the status quo, delivering future-focused solutions that enable organisations to thrive in an ever-evolving, diverse world.

Visionary Leadership for an Inclusive Future

• Intersectional Futurism™: Combining visionary thinking with actionable strategies to position marginalised voices at the forefront of change.

• The Privilege Core: Transforming privilege into a tool for empowerment, allyship, and sustainable growth.

Jarell’s data-driven, culturally conscious methodologies set new global standards for leadership, addressing power, privilege, and systemic inequality head-on. His frameworks empower employees, strengthen communities, and pave the way for meaningful, sustainable transformation.

🌍 Discover more: www.bempongtalkingtherapy.com
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