Dr. Ajita Robinson Organizational Wellness Expert, Grief Therapist’s Post

"Many Black women in positions of leadership earnestly believe that they cannot afford the luxury of a more integral moral ecology because they are being made to choose between their livelihoods and their ideals." It is imperative that we make professional space for Black women to share their collective abuse. I can only hope to be of support as I continue to advocate for those who work directly and indirectly with me. I live at the intersection of anti-Black maleness in a field that views my peers as vectors and villains while Black women live in a wholly different place where they are expected to bring #BlackGirlMagic to fix decades-long internal abuses without support to dismantle to status quo. And if they ever do that nearly impossible work, they will pay a dear price...often with public admonition. To address these issues takes transparency and higher levels of support. It was nothing but shocking to see first-hand the professional abuses that a Black woman in leadership faced at an org that I led. 1) Staff openly questioning her academic credentials (read: Black women don't/can't earn doctorate degrees) 2) One individual stating that they did not want to report to her but to a white leader who didn't even have her skill set (read: I prefer reporting to someone who looks like me) 3) A Black woman peer who sent numerous threatening text messages if she preformed corrective action on her due to her egregious and demeaning behavior with staff and peers (read: Not all skin folk are kin folk) 4) A white man who was being investigated for improper behavior who was immediately terminated for attempting to destroy evidence who then became verbally & physically aggressive which led to her locking herself into an office and having to call the police (read: Black women must already know their place on society's Privilege Flag Pole) 5) Being told by staff that she should not have called the police and that she must have done something wrong to make the white terminated employee so upset (read: Be prepared to die and then have people say you were complicit in your own death) Too many Black women have these and worse experiences on a habitual basis. Systemic violence is putting your head in the sand and hoping that well-meaning "Allies" who have no history of openly supporting Black women will suddenly do so when faced with their daily realities. We must do better. #iSupportBeverly #TrustBlackWomen

In the wake of Sonya Massey's tragic murder, we are reminded of the constant danger Black women face daily. Even as one runs for the highest office in our nation (Kamala is also South Asian), Black women continue to experience violence and injustice at alarming rates. In 2020, we saw a surge of rage and energy following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. Yet, as the spotlight dims and tensions ease, the momentum often fades, leaving us with a deafening silence from powerful organizations and individuals alike. I entered the DEI field motivated by the earlier murders of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Growing up as a white person in Idaho, I made it my responsibility to amplify these crucial conversations and support the Black Lives Matter movement. Many still believe that being "colorblind" is the answer, but ignoring race doesn't erase the stark reality that Black individuals face daily, particularly when confronted with violence and discrimination. We will undoubtedly see anger and calls to action following Sonya Massey's murder. But the question remains: how do we create a society that sustains its commitment to racial justice and equity beyond moments of heightened awareness? How do we integrate this commitment into our daily lives, rather than merely tuning in when it becomes popular to do so? The answer lies in persistent, unwavering dedication to change. It involves continuous education, listening to and elevating Black voices, and holding ourselves and our institutions accountable. We must challenge the systems that perpetuate racism and work tirelessly to dismantle them. And yes, this means in our workplaces too. It's about building a better, more just society where Black lives are valued and protected every single day. #BlackLivesMatter #JusticeForSonyaMassey #DEI #RacialEquity #RacialJustice

Rest, Joy, Ease, and Thriving Aren't Luxuries—They Are Our Birthright. ~ Rachel Cargle In leadership, prioritizing rest and care isn’t just an act of self-preservation—it’s an act of resistance and survival. For Black women, who are often leading in systems not designed for our well-being, reclaiming rest, joy, and ease is essential. Studies suggest that engaging in intentional self-care can improve both mental and physical well-being, allowing us to thrive, not just survive, in our professional lives. Prioritizing care is an act of resistance, allowing Black women to reclaim our time, bodies, and mental well-being. Let’s lead from a place of wholeness, knowing that thriving is our birthright. https://lnkd.in/gEXzt8Uh

It’s the 20 year anniversary of the movie, “White Chicks”, a comedy which takes a look at the experience of being black while playing white. Working in predominantly white spaces as a black women, this 20 year anniversary has got me thinking about what I wish things could be like, if the intersection of womanhood and blackness wasn’t seen as something to tokenize or be threatened by. Here’s my wish list: 1. I wish that corporate efforts to increase representation of women take an intersectional approach rather than trying to splice and dice black women into either BIPOC or women, but never both. 2. I wish that black women are taken seriously when they express complaints of being overworked, overtasked, underresourced, underpaid, undercoached, overlooked, and overly blamed. 3. I wish that black women stop getting told what is and what is not racist or harassment by people who have never experienced racism, misogyny, and/or misogynoir. 4. I wish that black women find places, spaces and people who don’t reinforce the unhealthy belief that black women need to work 2-3 times as hard, to get paid 30-40% less, while also being mindful of everyone else’s feelings but their own. 5. I wish that black women get paid, promoted, recognized, supported and treated so well in corporate spaces.

https://lnkd.in/ebRPrPAS There is a long history of media misogynoir in sports. Black women are not often given the space and the grace to be vulnerable about their trials, tribulations, and traumas. The media has a responsibility to report in ways that are as ethical and bias-free as possible. It should be a mandatory requirement for those working in the media to be educated about racial biases and stereotypes like the Angry Black Woman trope and the adultification bias, and understand how easy it is to engage in misogynoir when providing commentary about a Black woman. 

In the wake of Sonya Massey's tragic murder, we are reminded of the constant danger Black women face daily. Even as one runs for the highest office in our nation (Kamala is also South Asian), Black women continue to experience violence and injustice at alarming rates. In 2020, we saw a surge of rage and energy following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. Yet, as the spotlight dims and tensions ease, the momentum often fades, leaving us with a deafening silence from powerful organizations and individuals alike. Many still believe that being "colorblind" is the answer, but ignoring race doesn't erase the stark reality that Black individuals face daily, particularly when confronted with violence and discrimination. We will undoubtedly see anger and calls to action following Sonya Massey's murder. But the question remains: how do we create a society that sustains its commitment to racial justice and equity beyond moments of heightened awareness? How do we integrate this commitment into our daily lives, rather than merely tuning in when it becomes popular to do so? The answer lies in persistent, unwavering dedication to change. It involves continuous education, listening to and elevating Black voices, and holding ourselves and our institutions accountable. We must challenge the systems that perpetuate racism and work tirelessly to dismantle them. And yes, this means in our workplaces too. It's about building a better, more just society where Black lives are valued and protected every single day. #justiceforsonya #racialjustice #racialequity #dei #blm #blacklivesmatter

Enough ! beyond appalled. How is it that we are not all completely outraged by the blatant and horrific attacks on outstanding and devoted Black women like Diane Abbott? Here we are yet again, having to take to social media to call out and hold to account those who are shameless and sit cozy in their hateful misognoir against Black women, thinking they can spew such disgraceful and dangerous statements without consequences. So-called "apologies" that pop up only after they've been caught and called out are meaningless. These expose merely disingenuous self-serving cover-ups, adding insult to the deep and real injury they've caused. The fact that these vile attitudes often go unchallenged speaks volumes about a society that continues to demean, suppress, and harm Black women and girls. It's a stark reflection of where we stand, and how far we have to go. The damage inflicted on mental health and well-being can be deep and should never be overlooked. Enough is enough. Stop attacking, attempting to silence and stifle Black women and girls. Understanding real change is not that complicated, but, it's a tough shift for many to grasp. It starts with giving Black women the respect, support, and protection they deserve. This means listening to and believing their experiences. And it involves promoting Black women into significant roles where they can make a real difference. It's now we need to acknowledge the immense power, value and incredible contributions of Black women. Credit: Photo by Misan Harriman for British Vogue