It’s an interesting time in our history. With the election of President Donald Trump, it seems all gloves are off. Any strides we seemingly made regarding Civil Rights and equality with President Barack Obama has given way to open racism and disrespect, particularly of black women.
Yesterday, I read with dismay at how Bill O’Reilly said he couldn’t hear U.S. Representative for California Maxine Waters comments because, “I was looking at her James Brown wig.”
At a White House press conference on March 28th, Sean Spicer asked American Urban Radio Networks reporter April Ryan to “stop shaking her head,“ after she asked a question and felt she didn’t get an adequate response.
These two occurences kicked off a #BlackWomenatWork hashtag, where several black women outlined instances on the job where they were treated in unprofessional, immature, and inappropriate ways because of false perceptions about their attitude and intelligence, based on their skin color.
The result? Black women are getting the hell out of corporate America! They’re not getting a seat the table, so they’re making their own table. It’s what I had to do as a Harvard Grad with aspirations to work in fashion journalism. I did all the right things (unpaid and minimum wage internships at respected publications), but was basically told I didn’t have the look. I slaved away as a 28-year-old intern, in Paris, to break in, but ultimately wasn’t granted even an entry level position at a top magazine. Thankfully the business I created on my own was doing so well that I didn’t need to go to a corporate environment. Black women in general have had to make their own way in order to pursue their dreams.
Even as an entrepreneur, it can be difficult. I was recently asked by Refinery 29 to participate on a panel. The host said, “[We’ll be speaking] about the fact that women of color, particularly black women, receive incredibly low rates and amounts of funding, even though they are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the country.” It’s crazy that I hadn’t even thought of that, but it’s true. I see articles every day about how sites LIKE Refinery 29 gets millions of dollars in funds to grow their brands and bulk up their staffs (R29’s most recent raise was for $45 million). Fashion Bomb Daily hasn’t even raised $45. We’ve been bootstrapping it for 10+ years without a dime of outside investment (and we could certainly use it). I’m sure there are multiple factors that could contribute to this (Where do you go? How do you ask? How much should you ask for?), but at face value, it seems the #BlackWomenatWork trend of black females not being treated equally or giving what they are worth is rampant in both the corporate and the entrepreneurial world.*
As much as we deal with, from our girls going missing to our respected U.S. Representatives and Journalists being dishonored at their honorable posts, we are survivors. We will not lose. Things get rough and sometimes we want to give up. But we stand strong in our power and in our truths.
I also want to encourage everyone to stand strong WITH one another. Though we do band together, I want black women and women in general to stand together and stand for what’s right. Don’t allow disrespect. Help each other.
It is NOT easy. And we can’t fight this alone. Resist the urge to be competitive and catty. At this time, in this moment, if it’s not crystal clear we need each other’s support, I don’t know what is.
Stand in your Love & Light,
** Random side note, but how does one ask, with a straight face, for $45 million? And get it? But then again, the folks at Refinery 29 must believe they are worth $45 million. So I think it’s also important we begin to value ourselves more.
