Dr. Akilah Cadet wants to SLIDE INTO YOUR DMs
for $5 this antiracism educator will text you tips for becoming a better ally.
Photography by Aubrie Pick
What does it feel like be an antiracist educator in a year like 2020? In a word, exhausting. "I work hard every day to put myself out of business,” says Dr. Akilah Cadet. "But I know that I’m not going to be put out of business, because of what just even happened over the past 3 days.”
The founder and CEO of Change Cadet is speaking a few days after Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. For Cadet, a Sacramento native who is now a proud resident of Oakland, incidents like the Blake shooting and its violent aftermath are proof of two conflicting things: That a voice like hers is needed badly right now, and that her voice alone will never be enough. To fulfill her mission of “dismantling and ending white supremacy,” Cadet needs to reach thousands—no, hundreds of thousands—of "allies and accomplices."
Whatever the number, Cadet is committed to teaching the lessons of antiracism to as many people who are willing to learn. In July, she teamed up with the Nudge app, to launch the Ally Nudge, a month of teachings sent over text message up to three times a week. The service costs $5 per month with proceeds going to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Since Cadet blasted out her first Nudge, her army of allies has grown to over 16,000 people, spread out in 1700 cities in all 50 states. On each “nudge day” she sends one educational text in the morning—maybe a podcast to listen to, an article to read, or a video to watch—and one action prompt in the evening, encouraging allies to fund a political campaign, email a CEO, or post a message on social media.
Photography by Aubrie Pick
"I see no benefit in saying to someone, ‘You’re racist.' They’re not going to hear that…I’m always looking for ways to push with humor, and push with love.”
The nudges are gently effective, like a friend doling out non-judgmental advice. They aren’t looking to shame people into action. “I’m always looking for ways to push with humor, and push with love,” Cadet says. "I see no benefit in saying to someone, ‘You’re racist.' They’re not going to hear that." The same goes for her executive coaching and corporate speaking engagements, a suite of services that Cadet’s been offering clients since she founded her company in 2015.
This year, for all the obvious reasons, has been her most in-demand. “I have 25-30 clients right now and a team of 6 that I manage. And social media is a job unto itself,” she says "But I have to remind myself that, if I’m in a position to help people be an ally or an accomplice for BIPOC people, then I’m going to do this as long as my mind, body, spirit, and soul allow me to.”
Cadet talks openly about the the physical and mental strains of her work. She was driven to found Change Cadet after experiencing racial and gender discrimination in the workplace. Those traumas have left lasting damage, to the point where she jokes about being a walking symbol of oppression. “Major depressive disorder, a heart condition, Black, woman—I am intersectionality!” She laughs mordantly at this laundry list, but it’s also what dictates her outlook on life: “I am an act of resistance just by being me.”
Photography by Aubrie Pick
Since the murder of George Floyd on May 25, Change Cadet’s programs have been busier than ever. And while she feels she has to hustle harder than ever during this moment of high-demand, she’s worked long and hard enough to be in a position where she can comfortably turn down clients whom she believes may only be interested in virtue signaling to their employees or customers. Burt for the ones who are truly committed, she’s all in. "I’m the Olivia Pope of diversity in the workplace,” she says. "I handle shit and fix shit."
"I’m the Olivia Pope of diversity in the workplace. I handle shit and fix shit."
Akilah founded Change Cadet by cashing out the retirement savings she had stacked up during her 15-year career in public health. “I knew I wouldn't be able to get a loan, as I was illegally fired due to my ethnicity and gender.” Her goal, she says half-facetiously, is to have a, “white privilege business by January 2021. Which is my way of saying it's free of debt.”
She’s working to build a lasting legacy, something that Black professionals have long been denied. “I want to pass along generational wealth for my unborn child,” she says, noting that she’s not actually pregnant at the moment. “The child's not here yet!” she laughs. "But when it comes I want to be able to say, ‘Mom did this all for you!’”