In the corporate world, you are faced with so many obstacles just to prove you are a great candidate for the team. Not because you aren’t exceptional at what you do, but because of the color of your skin. I slowly learned that you can have the same credentials, possibly even “over-qualify,” and still be at the end of the list to move beyond your current role. I eventually started to wonder if I was on the team simply to cover up any speculation that it was not a diverse workplace. I would often wonder if I was wasting my time proving how great of an asset I was to a corporation that did not care about who I was as an individual, but instead only cared that their name would not be in the media for not having at least “One Black Girl” that gets paid a good salary. I pushed and pushed until, one day, I was over it. The reality of being treated “nice nasty” because of my skin color was extremely exhausting.
Promoting #BlackLivesMatter does not mean it matters to your corporation. At this point it’s almost become a cliche that is used to silence African Americans. We must hold everyone accountable by demanding that they show, through their actions, that Black lives matter — especially in the workplace! We do not need a statement; we need an action plan. African Americans deserve the same promotions, leadership positions and career advancement opportunities as their white colleagues. I personally believe that if a learning plan is drawn for each organization to educate themselves on what it means to be Black in the corporate world, and in the world we live in more generally, then things will definitely be different.
Promoting #BlackLivesMatter does not mean it matters to your corporation. At this point it's almost become a cliche that is used to silence African Americans. We do not need a statement; we need an action plan. Click To TweetPractically speaking, here are three concrete things you can begin considering now:
- Educate yourself. Look into the data around what an African American in the corporate world must do to prove themselves. The results may be shocking.
- Ask yourself, “If I were treated in this manner, would I consider it fair?” This simple act of taking on a different perspective is an easy entry into the practice of building empathy.
- Make a change, starting with yourself. Maybe it’s a big change; maybe it starts with a small one. The important thing is to do it, and to start now. Once you’ve made one change, begin adding others. Here are just some ideas of where to begin.
Being Black is hard, and trying to work for a big corporation is harder. We must fight against the stereotypes, pay inequity and workplace microaggressions. But so, too, must our allies take on the responsibility to change both themselves and the unjust systems they benefit from. The injustice must end and equality must begin.
We must fight against the stereotypes, pay inequity and workplace microaggressions. But so, too, must our allies take on the responsibility to change both themselves and the unjust systems they benefit from. Click To Tweet
