Even though it’s 2018, black women are still having to navigate a certain type of way in work spaces. This is something that I’ve had to struggle with also, and it can really be a challenge when you don’t know what to do. The thing is, the micro aggressions that happen don’t just happen for women, or even for black women from white women, but can even happen amongst ourselves. Black on black aggression in the workforce is REAL. Race and gender are things that we always have to talk about, and honestly, it’s hard.
Recently I revisited this study “How Black Women Describe Navigating Race and Gender in the Workplace,” which not only comforted me in knowing that I wasn’t alone in some of the feelings I had, but also that countless women of color feel the same way everyday. One of the things that really stuck out to me was this trend of women being taught to dim their light, even by their mentors! When I read that, I was bewildered — your mentor is supposed to lift you up, I thought. They’re supposed to teach you how to let your light shine unapologetically. And yet, some are teaching you to hide your gifts, to suppress the bigger things you want, and to stay quiet when you have the opportunity to vocalize your accomplishments?
Cheeks said in her report:
“The women I interviewed talked a lot about having to dampen aspects of their personality to feel like they could fit into the culture of their workplace. One woman told me, “My mentors talk to me about dimming my light. I always thought I had to bring that down to make people comfortable.” These women tended to feel that their organizations “weren’t ready” for them and they felt like they couldn’t be their authentic selves in the office at the risk of making others feel uncomfortable or hurting their chances of professional advancement.”
This was one of the touchiest parts of the interview for me, as this phrase, “I always thought I had to bring that down to make people comfortable,” really hit close to home. I have literally felt the exhaustion on my shoulders during days where I couldn’t seem to understand why your light was ‘too’ much for people, or even that the idea of bringing your authentic self to work was something to be detested. It’s not that I don’t understand as in I am ignorant to the reality, it’s just I don’t understand how that’s something that we still go through.
Each and every person on this earth has a unique set of skills. Every person is ordained to do and be something great. And yes, each person is different and unique in their own way. Therefore, how can one be threatened or covet what another has? When one shines, all shine. When one falls, many fall. And if one is taught to dim their light, then they inherently teach others to dim their light as well. Then everyone is just sitting in a dim room, lol.
Never feel convinced that dimming your light is the answer to achieving greatness. You ARE greatness, walk in that light boo.
