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You’ve never been the only or one of very few black people in a white setting?
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You’ve never been the only or one of very few black people in a white setting?
Yo it's crazy how common this type of stuff, it's like we live the same life in different scenarios. You try to your best to prevent from saying "its b/c i'm black," but that is literally the reason for the treatment being received, and they try to act like being racist is only saying the n-word or separate water fountains. Racism is thriving til this day.This article is too relatable. TOO RELATABLE.
I worked for a tech company that merged with an ad company and then became a digital ad company. I was one of like 12 Black employees, that number fell drastically after my departure (not because of me, I wasn't the Malcolm X of the office). The C-Level staff (Chief staff: CEO, CFO ETC.) was all White. Due to the merger we had offices in different markets (states) and there were some markets where the office was 100% White. Mind you these are markets are considered metropoles (Chicago, Boston, Dallas etc.). I was IT in the New York market.
There are the micro-aggressions that you experience: your work is openly second guessed, condescending attitudes, aggressive attitudes, coddling of White women, White men who think they can interrupt any discussion or thought. What would bug me out is when I would experience similar attitudes from my Latinx colleagues.
I remember on many occasions I witnessed my White male co-workers loudly cursing, blowing up on employees of color and not face any sort of punishment above a "talking to." The behavior would then be excused with "It's deadlines you know? Everyone is on edge." If me in all my Blackness exhibited 5% of that behavior, I'd lose my job: "We really do love you here and you've contributed a lot, but your behavior was very threatening and it made a lot of us feel uncomfortable. This is a safe space and we feel you destroyed that."
One time at the old job in the office, it was May 4th, Star Wars day. I wore my t-shirt that says in Star Wars style, "May The Blackness Be With You." A lot of people liked it. This one White woman says to a group of people, which was overheard by my manager, "Did anyone see Leon's shirt? Then he wonders why he gets profiled." My Manager told HR and all she got was a "talking to." I know that for a fact because we have glass walled conference rooms, and when I walked by the meeting with her an HR, she had this look on her face of "really? this is why we're here." Immediately after the meeting she comes up to and said "Oh my god Leon, when's your next show? I wanna come see." I'm just like wow. Fast forward to me leaving the company last year, before my exit interview I had to fill out a survey and I mentioned that experience. The HR manager who conducted my interview, she tells me how she wanted to go over my survey because what I mentioned was "concerning." Which is code for "do we have to worry about a possible lawsuit." When I elaborated on it, her demeanor changed from "caring" to passive because I guess she didn't see any reason to fear a lawsuit.
**Side note: HR is not your friend. HR will never be your friend. HR only has the company's best interest in mind.**
The tech world loves to promote this idea that it's so progressive, when in reality it's a White boys town. Often times they'll proudly tout their coveted "Diversity and Inclusion" committee, however, said committee lacks diversity.
Yo it's crazy how common this type of stuff, it's like we live the same life in different scenarios. You try to your best to prevent from saying "its b/c i'm black," but that is literally the reason for the treatment being received, and they try to act like being racist is only saying the n-word or separate water fountains. Racism is thriving til this day.
You’ve never been the only or one of very few black people in a white setting?
YEAH! YOU TELL'EM! SWALLOW THAT BLACK PRIDE, THEN TELL'EM YOU'S DOMINICAN BUB!this article completely Misses da bleeding obvious, if you don't develop chemistry between your colleagues it's going to affect your work doesn't matter what race you are or gender or age.
why you think broads have a hard time when it comes to climbing up upper management, unless she's a one of da guys type it's going to be hard for a woman to get into those social settings where people let their hair down and talk their ish that develops camaraderie outside da workplace.
alot of da REAL work happens in da bar or on da golf course when it comes to rubbing elbows wit da big wigs & movers/shakers.
instead of that author of da article complaining about not being judged solely by their work, how about he supplements his skill-set with stepping up his office politics game because that's as important as your individual talent in corporate America or in any career in general.
relationships and interpersonal communication matters.
Fam, going golfing when you don't like golfing just to get a promotion is kissing as.s.this article completely Misses da bleeding obvious, if you don't develop chemistry between your colleagues it's going to affect your work doesn't matter what race you are or gender or age.
why you think broads have a hard time when it comes to climbing up upper management, unless she's a one of da guys type it's going to be hard for a woman to get into those social settings where people let their hair down and talk their ish that develops camaraderie outside da workplace.
alot of da REAL work happens in da bar or on da golf course when it comes to rubbing elbows wit da big wigs & movers/shakers.
instead of that author of da article complaining about not being judged solely by their work, how about he supplements his skill-set with stepping up his office politics game because that's as important as your individual talent in corporate America or in any career in general.
relationships and interpersonal communication matters.
this article completely Misses da bleeding obvious, if you don't develop chemistry between your colleagues it's going to affect your work doesn't matter what race you are or gender or age.
why you think broads have a hard time when it comes to climbing up upper management, unless she's a one of da guys type it's going to be hard for a woman to get into those social settings where people let their hair down and talk their ish that develops camaraderie outside da workplace.
alot of da REAL work happens in da bar or on da golf course when it comes to rubbing elbows wit da big wigs & movers/shakers.
instead of that author of da article complaining about not being judged solely by their work, how about he supplements his skill-set with stepping up his office politics game because that's as important as your individual talent in corporate America or in any career in general.
relationships and interpersonal communication matters.
In other settings, people want me to see them 9-5 and then 5-8 at the bar or some other company function. Bruh...where is my life, my friends, my family, my church, my girl supposed to fit into this schedule?
Fam, going golfing when you don't like golfing just to get a promotion is kissing as.s.
@ imagining Ninja hittin "da course" with the good ole boys
This how it is for me with lunch in my office...They all like to go out to lunch together at the same time like we still in school or something and 90% of the time I say no...Then they say I’m “anti social” or feel some type of way about it... But I’m like we all work in the same office all day, I want that time to myself where I don’t gotta small talk and keep discussing work **** like they still do at lunchWhole article was so relatable. I'm the only black designer at my job, room full of whites. I don't want to be friends, gossip buddies, nor do I care about your family or dogs. I do my job, clock out, and live my life. I show up once a year, MAYBE twice, to an after work happy hour. I'm with you 40+ hours a week. No, I don't want to hang out. When you're just there, literally doing your job and not getting involved with the extra bs, they can't read you, so they deem you a villian
This how it is for me with lunch in my office...They all like to go out to lunch together at the same time like we still in school or something and 90% of the time I say no...Then they say I’m “anti social” or feel some type of way about it...
so you're gonna tell me you rather have someone with less talent than you leap frog you in a company because they're willing to be chummy with management off hours and potentially be your boss? some of ya don't move strategic at ALL.
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Facts.... This stuff happens in the military as well... You gotta get down with the crew if you wanna move up the ladder ..this article completely Misses da bleeding obvious, if you don't develop chemistry between your colleagues it's going to affect your work doesn't matter what race you are or gender or age.
why you think broads have a hard time when it comes to climbing up upper management, unless she's a one of da guys type it's going to be hard for a woman to get into those social settings where people let their hair down and talk their ish that develops camaraderie outside da workplace.
alot of da REAL work happens in da bar or on da golf course when it comes to rubbing elbows wit da big wigs & movers/shakers.
instead of that author of da article complaining about not being judged solely by their work, how about he supplements his skill-set with stepping up his office politics game because that's as important as your individual talent in corporate America or in any career in general.
relationships and interpersonal communication matters.