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For the second installment of our Trailblazers series, Intelligence Squared has partnered with gal-dem to bring together a collection of outstanding women \u2013 and their letters \u2013 to our stage.\nIf you could offer insight and advice to your younger self, what would you say? Oprah Winfrey, when she was 58, wrote these words to her 19-year-old self:\n\u2018Dear beautiful brown-skinned girl\u2026 The truth is, he\u2019s intimidated. You don\u2019t know this, though, because you can see yourself only through his eyes. A lesson you will have to learn again and again: to see yourself with your own eyes, to love yourself from your own heart\u2019.\nMaya Angelou, at the age of 85, had this advice for her 15-year old self:\n\u2018Find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less\u2019.\nAdvice like that has both universal resonance and specific relevance to women of colour. Most people have fallen in love, discovered the power of art and wondered whether they have the capacity to achieve great things. But women of colour have to contend with unique experiences. Many feel the sting of erasure when they are young \u2013 not seeing themselves in literature, on TV or occupying positions of power. Growing up can be lonely and even more so if you feel left out of predominantly white or male spaces. Perhaps reading a letter by someone with shared experiences would help you to feel less alone in your struggle and more at home in your joy.\nIn the second installment of our Trailblazers series, Intelligence Squared has partnered with gal-dem to bring together a collection of outstanding women \u2013 and their letters \u2013 to our stage. They range from playwright\xa0Bonnie Greer\xa0and writer\xa0Afua Hirsch\xa0to footballer\xa0Eni Aluko\xa0and comedian\xa0Shappi Khorsandi. The event will be chaired by BBC Radio 1 presenter\xa0Clara Amfo.\n\n\u2014\nWe\u2019d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be.\xa0\nSend us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2.\xa0\nAnd if you\u2019d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today.\n\nJust visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.\xa0\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices