Dear Society,
As I try to seek the similarities between the workplace experiences of African Americans and other races, I face the challenge of finding the differences only. By examining and digging deeper into the African American community’s experience in the workplace, I was able to gather a never-ending list of questions that we all need to address and discuss.
Why is it that over the past couple of weeks we’ve had to force a smile on our faces as the media reveals our uncertain future? Why is it that the workplace tiptoes around these media coverages as if we are too aggressive to hold a civil conversation?
Why do we constantly have to face uncomfortable comments and questions? Why is our hair a conversation starter?
Why do we feel so out of place where we spend eight hours a day?
When I was first applying to jobs after college, I noticed that companies would flaunt their diversity and equal opportunities. How come that seems to be misleading information? How come I can’t easily find someone within leadership who looks like me? How are we supposed to feel inspired to grow within any corporation?
Why do we feel the need to work 10 times harder than the average in order to excel?
The problem is that corporate America does not hear us asking these questions. And if they listened, they could never relate.
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I encourage you to read and learn more about race in the workplace. Below is an article that I found interesting:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/us/black-in-corporate-america-report.html?ref=oembed
