Melanin Memos

Hey LinkedIn! My good friend is looking to interview an EDI Specialist for a project. I’m reaching out to all of my EDI connections or anyone who knows of an EDI Specialist if they would be interested sharing their insight and experience in the field to an enthusiastic student. Let me know in the comments or DM me and I can provide an introductio. Much love yall☺️

In response to the latest headlines of top Black women leaders who have been interpersonally and systemically targeted by racism and sexism, I collaborated with my dear friend Marissiko Wheaton-Greer, Ph.D. of Greer Consulting to create this infographic to illustrate the common challenging themes that Black women face in the workplace and in academia. We know too well the cycle of how misogynoir allows organizations to hire us to expand diversity in the workforce, but then predictably protect and uphold hostile work environments that ultimately push us out or silence us. Here is a typical lifecycle of a Black woman employee and the ways we experience the compounding effects of racism and sexism in the workplace. Let us know if this resonates with you and who you might add. Image description: the image is an infographic with four arrows representing four stages in a lifecycle. Each stage containing the following themes. First stage | RECRUITMENT/ONBOARDING * Tokenization * Lower Pay Offer * Microaggressions in Interview Second stage | OPTIMISTIC EMPLOYEE * Expertise Discounted * Invisible Emotional Labor * Uncompensated Labor * (e.g. Leading an ERG) * Legitimacy Questioned * Misogynoir (Apologies for the misspelling in the graphic. We will correct in any future sharing.) Third stage | BURN OUT * Tone Policing * Gaslit about racism + sexism * Ambition Seen as Threat * Hypermonitoring of Work * Isolation * Racial Battle Fatigue * Stifled Promotion Fourth stage | STAY and/or EXIT-REPEAT STAY * Grin and Bear It * Act Your Wage * Quiet Quitting EXIT-REPEAT * Pushed Out * Mental Health Exit . . . #blackwomen #blackwork #blacklivesmatter #blackmentalhealth #mentalhealth #claudinegay #harvard #workplace #bonnie #quietquitting #microaggression #racism #sexism #antiblackness #DEI #DEIB #diversity #equity #inclusion #belonging

🚀Join us this Saturday on January 13th from 10-11AM at 105 St. George Street for the first episode of our "Black Women in Entrepreneurship" series happening on Day 2 of the 2024 Black Career Conference.  Our Program Coordinator, Justina K. will be sitting down with a panel of inspiring black female founders Ehi Agbonlahor, Denika M., Faizah B., Joëlle Kabisoso Kapinga, Dezie St Hilaire, Racheal Kalaba, PHD Candidate, Ashley Wright, and Erica Effah in a #girlchat where they will be unraveling the intricacies of being a Black woman in the entrepreneurial space. Uncover personal tales of resilience, strategies for overcoming biases, building support networks, and fostering strength in the face of adversity. Secure your spot now by signing up at https://lnkd.in/gn56h3jG and be part of this empowering dialogue! Come ready to take notes!! Thank you to NACO Canada for partnering with us on this roundtable as part of their recently launched National Women's Initiative (https://lnkd.in/gyqTWqhj)