Hycinth Taylor’s Post

The world continuously fails to recognize the value and humanity of Black women. It's disheartening to navigate through the constant barrage of misogynoir saturating social media platforms. Whether it's contentious debates over the worth of figures like Amanda Seales, or the callous exchanges among rappers regarding their impact on Black women and girls, the exhaustion is palpable. These pervasive stereotypes surrounding Black women's bodies persist both within and outside our community. As Professor William 'Lez' Henry astutely notes, our reality is often depicted as "‘othered’, dehumanized, subjugated, and misrepresented." The array of caricatures—from the Jezebel to the Sapphire, the Angry Black Woman to the Mammy—have shaped harmful narratives that influence how people perceive and engage with us. It's not surprising, then, that incidents like Drew Barrymore's recent misstep, wherein she invoked the Mammy trope, occur. This mistake is particularly galling considering the Mammy stereotype has historically served the interests of mainstream white America, from the era of enslavement to the present day. Black women continually pour our love and labor into the world, yet too often, it remains unreciprocated. We're exhausted from constantly juggling roles and expectations, only to find that our efforts are undervalued and overlooked. As a Black woman who invested time and energy in crafting this message, I implore you to reciprocate this appreciation by acknowledging the struggles we face and actively working towards a more equitable and inclusive world.

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.

Black Women Are Not Cosplay: Rejecting Caricatures and Cultural Appropriation https://loom.ly/F8IuQpo In recent years, there has been a disturbing trend where elements of Black culture, particularly those associated with Black women, have been adopted, imitated, and commodified by individuals outside the Black community. From hairstyles and fashion choices to vernacular and body aesthetics, what many see as homage to Black culture is, in reality, a form of appropriation that reduces Black women to mere caricatures. This blog seeks to highlight why Black women are not cosplay and should not be treated as such, and why it's crucial to recognize the harm this behavior inflicts on the Black community.

There are a lot of posts about Black women right now, and even a few centering them. I can offer my own cohort some tips, but not much else of value. 1. If you think you treat Black women the same as other people, find a way to record your interactions without the context of who you're speaking to, and then review them a month later. I guarantee you aren't, actually. So even if you think you are, keep examining and improving. 2. Never fucking ever mention the expression on a Black woman's face, regardless of how you feel about it. And if someone else does, call it out immediately. There are deep cultural reasons, not just in the US but worldwide, that this happens, and you don't need to understand them all to just stop. 3. Never fucking ever mention the tone that a Black woman is taking, regardless of how you feel about it. And if someone else does, call it out immediately. Again, deep cultural reasons you don't need to fully understand. Just stop. Honestly, these same points exist for Black people of all gender identities, but for Extremely Intersectional reasons, it's worst for Black women. So start by addressing it there. Look, I'm not above reproach, myself. Doing the Wrong Thing are hard lessons that many of us were taught from an exceedingly young age. It takes time to identify and deprogram our implicit biases. Give yourself grace for your failures, just as you do for misgendering someone or whatever. But apologize, make it right, and do better so that you can be better. My heart absolutely aches for everyone that has been pushed off the glass cliff, in one way or another. Our society suffers greatly for these continued injustices. Black women are great, brilliant, powerful, and needed. And we need to be better at demonstrating that.

You want to know what happens when you put Black women in positions of Power without addressing the systems of oppression and racism in which they navigate? Claudine Gay. In these positions we have responsibility, but rarely do we have Authority and true support. We may have allies who show up when it’s aesthetically pleasing or self serving. But in times of conflict, we rarely have accomplices who are willing to do what’s right. To disrupt systems, policies, and narratives they benefit from. The closed door support means NOTHING! Why am I only talking about Black women when it happens to others? Let’s not forget, in order to get in these positions where we are the FIRST and ONLY (which is often unsafe for us), we have endured and navigated terrian you couldn’t imagined. We’ve out performed, out produced and sacrificed far more than our predecessors…only to sit under a lens of zero tolerance and scrutiny. When I say I specialize in organizational wellness THIS is why. This is trauma and organizations and institutions have a role in dismantling the systems that maintain it.

Something to think about this Black History Month: Black women have a more challenging experience than almost everyone else in the workplace.  They’re often the only Black woman in the room and experience a greater variety of microaggressions than women of other races and ethnicities. And though many women struggle to get recognition at work due to performance bias, Black women often have to work even harder than most other women to prove their abilities. Black women in white-majority workplaces are more likely to have their competence questioned than almost any other major ethnic group of women or men.

Why are amazingly talented Black women fleeing Corporate America? These stories offer clues & are a must-read for anyone who cares about fairness & equality. In the first part of this two-part series, Raydiance Dangerfield, ICF-ACC dives into the challenges Black women deal with at work. Using real stories & solid research, Dangerfield shows 2 big hurdles: unfair workloads & unhelpful feedback. Can you relate?... Stay tuned for part 2, which includes potential solutions. #TalentManagement #BlackHistoryMonth

🎉 Kamala Harris's Historic Candidacy: A Beacon of Hope and Progress for Black Women! This is the moment🚀👩🏾🎓👩🏾💼👩🏾⚖️🌟 Kamala Harris’s candidacy is more than just a political milestone; it symbolizes progress and the ongoing fight for representation and equality. Her journey motivates us all to push for greater inclusion and celebrate the diverse experiences that enrich our society. 🌟 ✨ Why This Moment is Revolutionary: Politics - Breaking Barriers: From Shirley Chisholm's pioneering campaign in 1972 to Harris's rise, the journey has been monumental. Harris's position energizes and inspires Black women everywhere. 🗽 Senate Representation: Kamala Harris and Carol Moseley Braun are the only Black women who have served in the U.S. Senate. 🔍 📉 Venture Capital Funding: Black women receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. While this moment for upon us we must remember the recent ruling against Fearless Fund and fight for more funding for Black entrepreneurs. 🏢 Fortune 500 Representation: Despite the immense talent and leadership qualities, Black women hold less than 1% of senior executive positions in Fortune 500 companies. Representation matters, and we need more seats at the table. 🌍 Let's harness this energy and continue to push for equity and inclusion across all sectors. https://lnkd.in/dHAxcdq6 Shari Dunn Gillian Marcelle, PhD Dr. Susan Swayze UCLA PhD, Duke MBA Elizabeth Leiba Emily O. Weltman, M. Ed. L C De Shay Samantha Katz Mike Green Erin Corine Johnson

In observance of Black History Month, I penned a two-part article delving into the challenges that Black women encounter in professional settings. During the early stages of my career, when I faced discrimination at work, every Black woman I confided in had either experienced similar situations or knew someone who had. Over time, common themes surfaced in these accounts. Through this series, I aim to amplify these narratives, supported by research, to bring to light shared experiences often overlooked during exit interviews. These untold stories are crucial as they often lead Black women to depart from organizations or even the workforce entirely to pursue entrepreneurship. Your feedback, comments, and shares are warmly welcomed. Creating an inclusive workplace where all individuals can flourish benefits everyone. https://lnkd.in/epJQse5e

Deep Dives into Lessons from "Girl Gurl Grrrl" by Kenya Hunt: 1. Redefining Beauty Standards: Colorism; Hunt challenges the preference for lighter skin within Black communities and the beauty industry's lack of inclusivity. The book encourages embracing all shades of Black skin and features. 2. Black Features as Beautiful: Hunt encourages celebrating features often considered "unconventional" in Eurocentric standards, like full lips, broad noses, and natural hairstyles. 3. Beyond Hype: While celebrating Black excellence, Hunt critiques the idea of "Black Girl Magic" becoming a pressure to constantly perform strength. 4. Nuance and Vulnerability: "Girl Gurl Grrrl" argues for embracing vulnerability and the full spectrum of Black women's experiences, not just their successes. 5. Black Women's Voices:The book highlights the importance of Black women owning their narratives and refusing to be defined by stereotypes. 6. Sisterhood and Solidarity: Hunt emphasizes the power of building connections and supporting each other within the Black community, despite differences. 7. Motherhood's Challenges: Hunt explores the unique challenges Black mothers face, from societal pressures to navigating a racist world with their children. 8. Black Motherhood as Strength: The book celebrates the strength and resilience Black mothers display in raising their children. 9. Belonging Beyond Race: Hunt explores the complexities of belonging as a Black womanboth within Black communities and in a world that may not always feel welcoming. 10. Creating Your Own Space: The book emphasizes the importance of creating spaces where Black women feel seen, heard, and valued, even when mainstream society doesn't provide them.