Kyra Liedtke

Interviewee: Kyra Liedtke

1. What are some of your earliest memories registering race/racism?

For Kyra, as a biracial child growing up in an all-white family, it didn’t take long for her to notice the differences between her and her loved ones. Not only physically, but also socially, she began to pick up on the ways that her extended family members treated her as a result of being the only Black person in her household. Even then, it wasn’t until her late Elementary/early Middle school years, that she started asking more questions. In this, she found out that her mother had actually been disowned as a result of her marriage to, and birthing a child of a Black man. 

2. How have your experiences with racism affected the way you view yourself?

Because of her negative experiences surrounding race/racism, Kyra found herself associating being unloved with her Blackness. And as a result, she “tried to avoid and dismantle Blackness so that family would like [her] more.” She “didn’t go out in the summer time as to not get darker”, “chemically straightened [her] hair”, “hid [her] southern undertone accent”, and ultimately “chose to whitewash [her] own personality, body, and heritage.”

3. How did you begin to deconstruct these ideas within yourself?

It was in the spaces that Kyra found at Florida State University that she was able to reclaim her Blackness. She “met people who allowed [her] the chance to explore this part of [herself].” She was “allowed to be proud”, to “grow”, and “to speak out without the fear of being labeled an angry Black woman.” Now empowered, Kyra sat in the sun with the intent of tanning, and appreciating her melanin. She cut her hair to revive her curls. She took pride in being Southern, and her way of speech. Now, finally, “someone was giving [her] Blackness a space.”

4. How do you confront the fear that comes up in leadership? 

She doesn’t know, really. She doesn’t know “what sparks in [her]” each time she’s standing at a podium, only that this spark never fails to be ignited when needed most. Though, nervous and melancholy, Kyra didn’t waste the opportunity to “say everything [she] wanted to say for 20+ years, but just never had the platform or confidence to say.” In those moments, “all fear diminished” because, “what was needed was a leader”, “what was needed were these conversations to be initiated.” And so, Kyra navigated the journey of “pushing past insecurities to know that [she] is more than capable of making a difference in this world.”

5. Is there anything you wish you would have known earlier, as a black person living in America?

“There is no such thing as sitting back and waiting for someone else to lead in voicing their opinions against social inequalities.” Kyra remembers that as a child, she “only ever wanted to take backstage, never wanted to be center or promote Blackness, or explain that this is who [she] was or spoke for.” Yet, in recent years, she figured “not only does [she] have to put forth [her] voice, but also use it to build up the voices of those other Black brothers and sisters” in the community.

Kyra Liedtke, is grace. She is courage in action. Being able to speak with her, and hear her experiences was an honor of the highest kind. Thank you, Kyra, for sharing your story. In this, you have shown us how to find voice, and give it space.

May we know when to listen, and when to speak. May we know when to fight, and when to embrace. May we seek and find. May we make space for self, for neighbor, again and again.