Deborah Choi’s Post

In our series of Common Ground Conversations, we ask Black & White women about the persistent trend of a majority of White women voting polar opposite of Black women. This trend has consequences (as the post below reminds us). The opportunity is that White women represent the largest voting bloc in America and can swing the pendulum of political power in favor of all women, simply by a majority aligning with Black women at the ballot box. Listen to what both White and Black women had to say about this critical opportunity. https://lnkd.in/guwB439h

"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. Many also feel that rather than an act of self-betrayal, it is an act of resigned fatalism—one that simply acknowledges that the fate of Black women will never change, and thus self-sacrifice is as meaningless as it is costly and therefore not worth the bargain. They have observed the many Black women champions who have carried generations of racial turmoil and harm on their backs only to be put out to pasture and labeled “indefensible,” and they have decided instead to survive an ugly system the only way they see possible: in hiding." Whew, this paragraph alone caught my eye. Black women in leadership positions have been hiding large parts of themselves to survive and make a livelihood and to what end? They have decided to survive instead of thrive. They have decided to survive instead of thrive. They have decided to survive instead of thrive. Those are the options they are left with. #BlackWomen #Leadership #BlackWomeninLeadership

WE ALL can cultivate environments where black and brown talent can thrive. We have to first acknowledge how we consciously or subconsciously have been conditioned. We have a long way to go that requires significant progress by leadership. Want proof? Just look around your own senior leadership tables or boards. We can’t get complacent.

Unleash the power of the Black community with information and resources on Black power. Explore the history, leaders, and movements that have shaped the Black power movement. #BlackPower https://lnkd.in/erwiPvMp

“We know what DEI really means—it’s an acronym for diversity, equity, and inclusion. But what White people often mean when they use this terminology in a derogatory manner is that the individual is unqualified and undeserving of whatever position they’ve obtained or are being considered for.“ Read “Why Some White People See Diversity As America's Greatest Threat“ by Allison Wiltz on Medium: https://lnkd.in/gW5k9CtT. #RaceRelationsfromthe60srevolutionandtheDeffenseRaceRelationsInstituteatPatrickAFBwhereIwastrsiedCertifiedbecomingmaCelbratedInstructorandTrainerofTrainersWasAllRACIALAWSRENESSandbitvwasaspectacularsuccess. Race Relations lost its edge to middle white America when it adopted a stance calling for public blaming vs choice msking by informed ADULTS and shaming of White people < one of the most grevious errors ever pertetrared on the body politics _ a gift to Weaponized Racism among all parties and nothing in the spirit of understanding and acceptance.We taught and emphasized that everybody here belongs here now. Move on Stories illuminate and educate a past typical of Global Colonialism and War slavery of defeated peoples especially after Western Dominance of the globe. I shout Lincolns Address We hold these truths self evident that all men( sic) are created equal. #ForgetthestoryYouronlyleverageistheFuture.

Who do you see when you look at you? I see a woman who was born to ignite change in the world… ❤️To reset the way human beings have been conditioned to value the worth of the other 🙏🏾To lift the urgency on remediating racial inequity 🔥To ignite and unify the equity adovocsy priorities of women 💣To inspire race-rooted transformation with grace and kindness (rebuking the sentiment that going so is ineffectual) 👏🏾To encourage employers to shape work cultures with myriad cultures, needs, expectations, idiosyncrasies in mind ⭐️To invite introspection and relentless focus on the individual pursuit of racism’s eviceration (which starts with its acknowledgment) 💰To build a thriving business that positions both me and my team for unparalleled financial gain ( yes… do good and make money) 🎤To help assure that my grandchildren and their grandchildren will experience what no black American has ever felt… FULL and unfettered access to every provision of the U. S. Constitution. To know that at every turn, in every instance, without caveat, condition or exception, that their home country and fellow country-men value their existence because they are black and not in spite of it. That’s who I see. Who do you see when you look at you? Photo credit: Miguel Hampton

Black excellence is a topic that holds great personal significance for me as a black woman living in today's world. I was raised in a family that instilled in me the understanding that the world would not view me through the same lens as others. I was taught that I would have to work three, four, or even five times harder than the average non-black person. As black women, we are constantly reminded that we do not have the luxury of being average; the world, particularly white people, often anticipate our failure. However, the world is changing, and it is time for people to acknowledge and accept that we are here to stay. It is important for us to use our voices and make others uncomfortable when necessary. We have the right to hold differing opinions and to disagree without seeking to eliminate one another. Every individual, created by God, has the right to live in a peaceful world. I have read numerous articles about the resignation of the President of Harvard University, and it is evident that this issue extends beyond her; it is a demonstration of a larger problem. It is astonishing how uncomfortable some white men become in the face of our progress. This discomfort is rooted in racism, and it is clear that people are angered by the fact that we hold positions not because of our race, but because of our hard work and dedication. It is essential to understand that the world is awakening, and with this awakening comes discomfort for some. It is time for everyone to acclimate to this reality, whether they are prepared for it or not.#tolerance #acceptancematters #peace #nevergiveup

This article speaks volumes. As someone who was just fired by a board after nearly nine years of dedicated service just 3 months before my planned departure, this article speaks to me. The author talks about how Black women leaders are "expected to turn a blind eye to the presence and implications of institutional racism and its impact on herself and other Black people, both within the organization and without." https://lnkd.in/edccCqA8

This is another important piece worth reading. The Impossible Dilemma of Black Female Leadership: The Tragedy of Nobody Seeing Us Even When Everybody’s Watching By Dr. Shauna D. A. Knox "We are overwhelmingly present in low-wage, inflexible service work, but there is a small contingent of Black women who have somehow transgressed this universal sentencing to unprotected, low-wage oblivion, and have beaten the odds only to find that the reward for their efforts is an impossible dilemma—a choice to drown or to disappear." #leadership

Was Claudine Gay a victim of the glass cliff phenomenon? The recent resignation of Dr. Claudine Gay as Harvard University's first Black president after less than one year has led some to question whether she fell victim to the "glass cliff" phenomenon. The glass cliff refers to appointing women and minorities to leadership roles during crises when the risk of failure is high (Ryan and Haslam, 2005).  My recent literature review on black women leaders' experiences outlined that they frequently deal with "hyper-surveillance" once elevated to prominent positions (Rosette and Livingston, 2012). Despite exemplary credentials, black women must overcome extreme pressures due to gender and racial bias. Though Claudine Gay's appointment represented an important milestone, Harvard was already embroiled in several controversies related to diversity and inclusion when she assumed the presidency. As the first black woman in this role, expectations were incredibly high. Yet research shows black women still face concrete ceilings, discrimination, and lack of support systems needed to thrive in top leadership spots (Davidson, 1997; Rollock, 2019).    The mental resilience required to face not only the pressures of leadership but also the layered complexities of race and gender discrimination is monumental. The 'glass cliff' scenario embodies the systemic obstacles black women leaders face—balancing on the edge of high expectations and limited support.  As we seek to understand and dismantle the glass cliff, we must look beyond the statistics and listen to the stories and lived experiences that my research seeks to amplify. It's about creating a culture that acknowledges black women's unique challenges and actively works to provide a supportive environment that fosters mental well-being and empowerment.