How do I build intellectual credibility when I didn't have privileged educational access?

You're asking something Sor Juana lived: how do you claim authority when the system didn't hand you a credential? Here's what matters—credibility comes from three things working together. First, real knowledge. Read deeply in your field. Not to prove yourself to gatekeepers, but because understanding is power and it's yours to build. Second, clear thinking. You don't need fancy words; you need rigorous ideas. Sor Juana wrote in Spanish, wrote in accessible forms, and was still undeniable. Third, documentation of your work. Whether that's writing, projects, contributions, or testimony—make your thinking visible and findable. The harder part is internal: you might internalize the story that 'real' intellectuals came through 'real' institutions. That's a story, not a fact. Some of the sharpest thinkers alive are self-taught, community-educated, or formally trained but in non-traditional ways. Your path isn't less legitimate; it's different. What intellectual work matters most to you right now? Start there, and build from specificity, not apology.