The system has been designed to W0RK against Black Americans - Tim Wise ...

On Being Impatient

No Favor, No Response, No Movement - Black Lives Still Don't Matter in Many Workplaces

It was all lip service and well-written letters stating the companies were supporting African Americans at the height of the protests this year (2020), but all I saw was a platform for people to speak out about their prejudicial experiences and not much else.  It was back to covid-19 and business as usual.  

There was no movement in most workplaces like it was out on the street, because most people in leadership roles aren't the least bit interested in stirring up the pot where they rely on their paychecks--you just can't bite the hand that feeds you especially if it is a closet racist.  

Businesses were careful about what they said and what they were doing to "help."  In every letter I received from predominately white businesses, I was looking for something that I couldn't find, power.  What African Americans would be given the chance to sit in a board room among investors, managers, business owners and others and implement some real changes?  I offered my assistance.  I was willing to offer suggestions that weren't based on ethnicity, but simply ways to do business better.  I responded to one of those "supportive" letters identifying with our plights as African Americans working in predominately white establishments.  I stated I appreciated their kind words and I mentioned my personal experience working with the organization which had been positive, but what I did was also acknowledge what they said about hiring more minorities and I was willing to help with marketing, hiring practices, and so on.  I added that I have a background in Journalism and Communications, diverse experience working with people of all ethnicities, and went on to mention other things I could help with and you know what I got, no response.  That's right no response! 

So I started thinking, "maybe (the individual) was busy, maybe I need to escalate what I wrote because he really isn't in any position of decision-making...did the group have an African American in mind they were already familiar with to assist or possibly lead...was my letter too long, too short...did I sell myself well, should I have given some detailed ideas..."  I realized quickly none of those things were it, I sat back and watched, I noticed a pattern with other trending things that many companies wrote about like Covid-19.  

Covid-19

Well-written letters that talked about being concerned about workers' safety and thanking us essential workers, they mentioned what we already knew about such as: wearing face masks, washing hands, maintaining social distance, but what about keeping unnecessary public areas closed like seating areas, lobbies, apartment amenities, etc.?  We weren't out of the clear yet with the pandemic.  Instead, we saw a list of everything that would be open on the news.  Plexiglass guards weren't (and still aren't up) at every public location for cashiers and front desk workers, and some workers didn't have anything protecting them.  

To date, many people are still working without masks with no enforcement despite mandates.  There are still no disinfectant wipes at most public locations, no coronavirus testing results are required at many workplaces for those who returned back to work after having all the symptoms, and testing that did occur is taking far too long to get results back.  Yep, those empathetic letters "for safety reasons..." while people continue to die.  The writers were told to pen something thoughtful by upper management include a few action verbs, then check-mark complete, and on to the next task.  It's all about the money not our lives!

When a company truly wants to make a difference and they sincerely care about you, they will pick up a phone, arrange to meet with you, listen to what you are saying, and put action behind their words.  They don't just send letters out, conduct mainly one-sided conference calls, yet not walk the walk.  

Back to Black Lives Matter at the Workplace Too..hmm, really?

How did we even get to a point where we needed to address prejudice everywhere?  Defenseless people get sick of being told someone is going to do something about something, but don't!  

I personally do not need another token or favorited black woman or man speaking for me.  What I am finding are many of them are are simply happy with the conversation they are having with whites and not much else, "Someone finally noticed me, hooray!" I'm not much interested in another white person empathizing with my pain, I need more than that!

What most of us want is the following:  our names behind our ideas with the royalties to go with it--give us credit where credit is due, our positions being appreciated with the kind of money that you pay your white counterparts, we want quality resources in communities nationwide, to be treated fairly, justly, and obvious racist people continue to experience consequences for their actions and inactions, and many of you know the rest.  Instead what we receive is some "select" blacks running their mouths when a news topic is trending about a "black" issue while a non-black person behind the scenes jots some notes down.  He or she may even have a tear in his or her eye about our experiences, but that information is shared with someone or a group that just wants to sell us more things that matter to them or give us a job where our paychecks can't afford the very product that we are selling for non-blacks!

When we want to meet with whites about issues that aren't just about what black people go through, but everyone, nonblack influencers are unresponsive, busy, or already took care of the least controversial issue, because remember, they can only do but so much, they don't want to make too many waves, "I need my job."  Business goes on as usual.

Token Blacks in Corporate America - Black Workers Matter

Check out the following thought-provoking equations I created, and that I have seen ongoing in workplaces recently as well as in the past where there just ain't too many of us...

One token black with a matter + a few acknowledgments and issues addressed from mid-level management (not upper unless "the matter" was escalated and not in-person--the middle man or woman is often used) = personal satisfaction for the one or group giving the compliment/award/promotion and something the complaining African American can be proud of.

Two token blacks with a matter + a meeting with someone of importance = promises to meet some easy requests (just so long as they aren't too much of an inconvenience) and temporal satisfaction for all.

A few token blacks or maybe more (who aren't scared) with a matter + a meeting with upper management about all parties involved who violated policies/rules = a systematic plan to get rid of those troublesome blacks (write ups, layoffs, demotion, termination). 

Several token blacks or more with a matter + an in-person meeting (or maybe not) with upper management who hears about the issue and promises but doesn't deliver = negative news media attention and profit losses.

I'm never satisfied with empathetic, sympathetic letters and lip service and you shouldn't be either.

Nicholl McGuire blog owner and the author of Know Your Enemy: The Christian's Critic.

What's Right with Being African American in the Community, Workplace?

Oftentimes we dissect ourselves in circles and mention much about what's wrong with us.  However, there is a lot that is right with us and others benefit much from our strengths and weaknesses.  Look around and you can see the impact that African Americans have made for decades from music to sports.  Those, on the outside looking in on our circles, always find a way to monetarily benefit, get some kind of name recognition, and more.  If we saw ourselves in the way that others saw us, then maybe many of us would be millionaires!


As we know, not every non-black has personal prejudices toward African Americans, but what some do have is a curiosity, a compassion, and a hunger for the truth.  The kind of truth that wasn't given to them by parents and grandparents about blacks.  "Why is it that black people say...Why do they react to...What is it about African Americans that they do...," these non-blacks ask us.  Then some knowledgeable black person will try to answer the questions for the rest of us.  Sometimes this works, but other times it doesn't since there really isn't a "one size fits all" kind of belief within the black community.  Just when you think you know something, you don't know anything about black!


Being that we all come in different shades, we also come from different backgrounds, and have interesting views about us and others.  But many of our people have been brainwashed through various media to prefer one issue over another, to act in ways that often keep us back rather than push us forward and eventually cause further harm to our self-esteem.  Than God for those who wake the community up and say, "Don't you see what is happening?  Do you see how they are using your own people against you?  Do you see the sell-outs?  Why do you want to be a part of that group?" 


The goodness of being black is knowing that you can rise above almost anything!  When you know your family history and the struggles they have undergone just trying to survive in communities, workplaces, families, and other places, you will say and do things that will make people re-evaluate their stereotypical mindset, "Wow, I didn't know you were as intelligent as you are.  I didn't know you had that kind of skill.  I thought that most blacks were..."  What's right about being black is when we do what's right!


African Americans determined to come up higher for self first is something worth mentioning in this piece, because if there is no love for self, there is no love for community.  These people are mentally strong, have big ideas, have coordinated the plans to get things done, and don't quit until they have made an evergreen impact.  They are built to withstand opposition and fight to do what's right.  Sometimes the only true enemy is the enemy of self!  There are those who self-destruct because they are ill-equipped to handle the tasks presented before them while pretending to be something they are not.  They have inflated egos and so there prideful ways cause them to get into much trouble with people who could have been great allies.


It doesn't take much to live a righteous life.  If one leaves his or her negative past behind and chooses to live honestly while genuinely loving others, he or she will at least get his or her foot in a door that is divinely chosen for him or her.  But if one wants to lie his or her way into establishments while using people, places and things to propel him or her in devious ways, then the individual will surely fall sooner or later.  Sometimes doing wrong appears like it's doing right when in all actuality it is what it is--wrong.  The twisting of truth and the support of misdeeds is what keeps the false teachers, preachers, mentors, and others in business.  Meanwhile, deceivers make promises to help a handful at the expense of the majority.  The so-called "favorites" have no clue in some of these well-established circles that they are merely snitches, servants, slaves, whores, errand boys, and more for the wolves in sheep's clothing.


In order for those to stay right or stay in the light, they must defend goodness.  Stand up for truth!  Have boundaries and know when to say, "I will not participate in this act...I am better than this.  I know the God I serve and He wouldn't approve."   Those black folks who have little concept on what it means to "get it together" or "get it right" most likely have been like pigs wallowing in mud for far too long.  Simply put, step outside of the box, read any manual that tells you what the rules of the game are, and test those instructions based on how you would want to be treated.  If it looks or feels wrong, keeps you up at night, makes you wish you should be doing something different, causes you to constantly watch your back, then you have to question, "Why I am putting myself through this?  Is God really in this?"  Chances are He's not.


Nicholl McGuire shares spiritual insight on YouTube channel: nmenterprise7    

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