Poised. Clear. Unapologetically Powerful: A Masterclass in Voice by Rep. Kamlager-Dove
- Kenya Dunn
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Every now and then, we get to witness a woman of color step into her leadership in a way that makes the rest of us sit up a little straighter, smile with pride, and whisper, “Yes ma’am…handle it.”
Let’s talk about what it looks like when a woman of color operates in her full POWER—when she uses her voice not just to speak, but to shift the room.
That’s exactly what happened when I watched Rep. Kamlager-Dove in that now-viral reel. What she delivered wasn’t just a press moment—it was a masterclass in voice, presence, and poise with purpose.
Check out Sis Sydney's masterclass on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKu7aGLSoME/?hl=en
Now, before we even get to her words, let’s talk about that entrance. Sis stepped forward with her chest up, like a whole ancestor prayer come to life. That posture wasn’t accidental—it was a message. “I’m not just in this room. I belong in this room.”
And then—something subtle but powerful happened.
Look closely at the people behind her. Their reactions spoke volumes:
A few looked like they just wanted to get out of the line of fire—not today, media storm!
Others visibly relaxed, like they knew, “She’s here now. We can breathe.”
And then there were one or two—trying not to grin—who clearly understood that Rep. Kamlager-Dove was about to handle it. That’s the quiet pride that shows up when you witness someone step into their lane of genius.
This is what leadership does. It brings relief, certainty, and sometimes, even awe. It says, “We’re in good hands,” without ever needing to be announced.
Then came the gesture we all recognized deep in our cultural soul:
The finger. The hand. The head tilt.
You already knew what was about to happen. That combo is the universal code for: I’m not here to play with you today. This wasn’t just body language. This was a rooted expression of confidence passed down through grandmamas, aunties, and the Sunday women who took up space in rooms they were never invited into, but always meant to lead.
And then… she opened with the word:
“Obviously.”
Now if you know, you know. “Obviously” is our genteel way of saying Who do you think you’re playing with? It’s our cultural shorthand for don’t try it. When Rep. Kamlager-Dove said it, she did so with clarity and command—immediately framing the conversation, setting boundaries, and putting everyone on notice: This will not be a free-for-all.
But the brilliance didn’t stop there.
She cut off the mess before it could gain momentum. She stopped the irrelevant question mid-spin—refusing to let false equivalence or rhetorical traps sneak into the official record. This is the power of clarity. No wavering. No dancing around nonsense. Just truth—delivered straight, no chaser.
And then came the moment that left us all blinking and snapping: She made eye contact with the press while calling out their culpability. Not only did she name what was missing, she laid out three better ways the story could have been told. Three. That’s what we call solution-ready critique. She didn’t just critique the narrative—she corrected it.
And let’s not overlook the subtle brilliance: She named names without naming them. With a glint in her eye that said, “Run up if you want to. I’m fact-checked, footnoted, and fierce.”
But what truly sealed it was how she closed: With the children. The elderly. The disabled. The people often left out of the headlines but most impacted by the policies. She re-centered the story not on the drama, but on the dignity of those who deserve better. That, my friends, is voice as advocacy. That is tone with purpose. That is cadence as leadership.
So what’s the POWER skill she modeled?
Your Unique Voice: She didn’t just speak—she led. She harnessed the cultural confidence of our lineage, shaped the moment with strategic tone and body language, and stayed grounded in purpose over performance.
Remember, your unique voice is how your identity is expressed in the world.
Here’s your reminder:
You don’t need to shrink, mimic, or neutralize your voice to be effective. You just need to own it. Speak with your full chest. Let your cadence be a drumbeat for truth. Let your hands and head speak the language of your people.
And when you lead, like Rep. Kamlager-Dove, let the room adjust to your brilliance—not the other way around.
Stay poised. Stay clear. Stay powerful.
-Kenya