READER COMMENT ON THE BLACK MENTALITY IN THE WORKPLACE

The following is a comment from a reader, Ayo, regarding my post about the Black man who claimed he stripped himself of his blackness (before arriving to work) the way Clark Kent strips his clothes in the phone booth to change into Superman. Here’s Ayo’s perspective:

I have researched how African American women subdue their self-identities in order to conform to a white male dominated organizational culture.

Although the term “double consciousness” was coined in the 19th century, it still applies today in the 21st century, especially for African American Women in the work place

African American women often feel that they must work “White” and live “Black.” You can call it what you like (blending in with staff) in doing so; many African American women compromise their self-identities. In the long run this can lead to negative psychological and physiological conditions.

I could go on, but I will end by stating that most hard working African Americans that I know or have observed arrive at the office with the mentality that they have a job to perform.