Free Black People Brag Different I've said before that slavery impacts us as much today as it did in the past. "Trying to understand race relations (or the conditions ailing the Black community since anyone alive can remember) without understanding slavery is like trying to cure cancer without understanding anatomy." As descendants of the recently enslaved, part of … [Read more...]
4 Tips for Black Employees: Melissa Harris Perry & Roland Martin
By 1 Comment
There's a lot we can learn from watching the careers of prominent Black people. Icons like Melissa Harris Perry & Roland S. Martin provide at least 4 key lessons for Black employees and as Black professionals working in White spaces, we would be wise to pay attention. To help us do that, let's start with a quick analogy: one that compares the power of house guests and … [Read more...]
On Bad Allies, The Black Vote & Anal Behavior
By 2 Comments
Last week I went on a mini Twitter rant about White allies acting badly. I inadvertently used a hash tag that was both informative and highly suggestive (at the same dang time): #NotAnAlly I was irritated by the countless social media conversations where non-Black “allies” threaten to withdraw support of movements like #BlackLivesMatter because of hurt … [Read more...]
#DearBlackPeople: It’s OK To Have Private Black Meetings
By 3 Comments
Many White allies find it problematic when they are excluded from private Black meetings. In fact, when Black people want to have a private “Black people only” meeting, you can expect to hear accusations of reverse racism. I saw this most recently in the days leading up to the #Movement4BlackLives Convening in Ohio (#M4BL). The convening was only open to Black people and … [Read more...]
Sandra Bland: Murdered For Acting Like A Black Girl
By 4 Comments
Sandra Bland was murdered because she sounded and acted like a Black girl. Her death was a fatal example of the ways Black girls are regularly treated by society when we don’t use our Make-White-People-Feel-Comfortable skill sets. This is especially true when we talk and act “Black” and don’t maintain consistent use the White Girl Voice in … [Read more...]