Being Black in the Workplace
Isn’t it funny how after all this time nothing’s changed?
Published in
2 min read3 days ago
They take my kindness as weakness
they take my silence as speechless
they consider my uniqueness strange
they call my language slang
they see my confidence as conceit
they see my mistakes as defeat
they consider my success accidental
they minimize my intelligence to “potential”
my questions mean “I’m unaware”
my advancement is somehow unfair
any praise is preferential treatment
to voice concern is discontentment
if I stand up for myself, I’m too defensive
if I don’t trust them, I’m too apprehensive
I’m defiant if I separate
I’m fake if I assimilate
yet, constantly I am faced with workplace hate
my character is constantly under attack
pride for my race makes me, “too black”
© Linda Sharp 2004. All Rights Reserved.
