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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 02: Tabitha Brown speaks onstage during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 2, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Essence)

Hello there. (Said in my Tabitha Brown voice.) 

Tabitha Brown is a social media influencer, actress, and vegan cook who soared to fame over the last few years, drawing in audiences with her sweet nature and unapologetic authenticity. Brown received her “big break” by posting videos on social media. Fans are drawn to her positive energy and southern charisma. Through her viral videos she promotes well-being, love, and being kind.   

Recently Brown partnered with the Food Network for a vegan competition cooking series It’s CompliPlated that debuted just last month. It’s the network’s only vegan-themed competition series. After airing only two episodes, Food Network suddenly, and seemingly without explanation, moved the show from its original primetime slot on Thursday evenings to midday on Tuesdays. 

While Food Network has responded to the change by claiming it was a better scheduling choice for the show, fans and Brown are not buying the explanation. Upon learning of the move of her series to a new slot, Brown took to social media to share a candid message. 

“I know I’ve said this so many times before, but for whatever reason, people just don’t seem to believe me, okay,” she said. “There is not a company, there is not a network, there is not a person, place, or thing that is going to change who I am.” 

It is clear from her video that Brown feels that the Food Network’s change is not due to it being more fit for her audience, but because they were trying to change who she was for the comfort of the audience. “I’m not going to change,” she said. “I’m not going to shift a little bit for your audience. I’m not going to talk a little bit different for your comfort. I’m not going to change.” Although she did not specifically say that Food Network was trying to get her to adjust, it is certainly implied. 

In DEI work we hear a lot about “code-switching” and “bringing your full self.” In our data from listening sessions (focus groups), surveys, and interviews, we find that many employees who identify as BIPOC do not feel they can be their true authentic self if they want to keep their job. Code-switching is not a matter of assimilation, but survival. Through our work at The Winters Group, we support companies in creating spaces that appreciate everyone for their individual uniqueness and gifts. We help to (re)construct environments that break down the barriers preventing individuals from feeling like they must always be on guard and adjust their style of speech, appearance, behavior, and expression in ways that will optimize the comfort of the dominant group in the workplace (white people). One can only truly be liberated when they can be their full self without hesitation or apology. 

Code-switching is not a matter of assimilation, but survival. One can only truly be liberated when they can be their full self without hesitation or apology. Click To Tweet

Brown is a beautiful example of not compromising who one is, even though it may ultimately cost her her job. I hope we all can learn from this — individuals struggling with bringing their full selves to situations, and organizations struggling with being comfortable when someone is different from the normative culture.  

Tabitha Brown is a beautiful example of not compromising who one is, even though it may ultimately cost her her job. Click To Tweet

I leave you with these inspiring words from Caroline Wanga, CEO of Essence and co-founder of WangaWoman: “Who you are is who you are. If you can’t be who you are where you are, change where you are not who you are.”