How Luvvie Ajayi Jones Inspires Change Through Discomfort
December 1st, 1955: a day of courage, empowerment, and change. Almost 70 years ago, Rosa Parks sat quietly on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, until a simple yet powerful decision changed the course of history. When she refused to give up her seat to a white man, her act represented more than the defiance of the unjust segregation laws—it sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. Despite knowing the consequences, Rosa Parks broke free from the chains of her comfort zone and fought for her rights, shaping America as it is today. The comfort zone—a psychological barrier to change—often restricts a person from confronting uncomfortable truths during situations of injustice. Luvvie Ajayi Jones speaks of this tendency to fear failure and dismiss discomfort in her 2018 TED Talk, “Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable”. In her talk, Jones addresses a timid audience that needs motivation to challenge societal issues fearlessly. Jones’s use of numerous personal connections combined with her credibility strengthens the impact of her argument while her professional stage demeanor and vivid personality appeal to the audience's emotions, effectively convincing them to embrace the discomfort that accompanies combatting challenging situations.
Jones’s nuanced presentation skills strengthen her argument with the various materials and expressions she uses throughout the TED talk. Without effective presentation skills, even the most well-supported argument fails to resonate with the audience. Jones, however, excels at engaging with her audience, captivating them with her dynamic stage presence. Visuals like videos and pictures provide a compelling means of persuasion as they make Jones’s words come to life. For instance, when she recounts ziplining (Jones, 2018, 3:56-3:59) and skydiving (Jones, 2018, 4:38-4:46), the large videos on the screen behind her allow audiences to witness her experiences visually rather than simply listen. As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and Jones’s visuals enhance the story given the limited time speaking time for the TED talk. Beyond visuals, Jones’s warm, confident, and inviting body language helps her establish a connection with the audience. Her purposeful hand gestures and intentional use of stage space by positioning herself towards the audience, reinforce the intimate feeling. Additionally, Jones’s varied tones elevate her talk, showing her enthusiasm, engagement, and eagerness to resonate with the audience. Her slow enunciation makes her purpose clear to the audience with an agreeable pace. All of these attributes contribute to a phenomenal stage presence in which Jones dynamically delivers the emotional weight of the subject and audience appeal she strives for.
Jones employs clever rhetorical strategies to create a compelling call to action, urging audiences to step outside their comfort zones to make meaningful impacts. Her well-rehearsed content and delivery effectively convince audiences to make history, just as Rosa Parks made history in 1955. Rosa Parks is only one of many fearless “dominos” who inspire change by standing up for the rights of those too afraid to speak for themselves. From Mahatma Gandhi, whose initiation of the Salt March in 1930 contributed to Indian Independence (Fleming, 2019), to Tarana Burke, whose 2021 book united a community of sexually assaulted women and inspired the “Me Too” movement (Gregory, 2023), the world continues to witness individual acts of courage in difficult situations. Luvvie Ajayi Jones carries on this legacy, encouraging the world to embrace uncomfortable situations by being the first “domino” to fall and combat injustices. Gandhi’s famous words, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change,” (Ranseth, 2017) encapsulate the essence of Jones’s message to her audience. Just as Gandhi believed that change in society begins within a person, Jones effectively convinces her audience that in the messy war between comfort and discomfort, embracing the discomfort always allows Truth to emerge as the victor.
References
Ajayi Jones, L. (2018, January). Get comfortable with being uncomfortable [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/QijH4UAqGD8?
Fleming, S. (2019, October 2). Who was Mahatma Gandhi and what impact did he have on India? World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/
Gregory, T. (2023, October 12). The Original “Me Too.”: Tarana Burke Discusses the Movement She Made. The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. https://harris.uchicago.edu/
Ranseth, J. (2017, August 24). Gandhi didn’t actually say “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Here’s the real quote. Joseph Ranseth. https://josephranseth.com/
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