What Mentality Do You Bring to Work? Is race a factor?
I once worked with a Black man who bragged about “visually changing in a phone booth, like Clark Kent stripping out of his suit to change into Superman.” What was this Black man symbolically leaving behind in the phone booth? Not a suit, but his blackness! This person claimed that, as soon as he arrived at work, he left his “Timberland mentality” in the phone booth and became someone “acceptable” to Whites. He even joined a Cricket team in order to win over Whites at his job. When he announced his participation in this sport, the Whites on our job promptly laughed at him—to his face. But, this Black man still claimed success in earning points with White managers and staff for stepping out of the box of what they expected from a Black man.
So, the question is…do you feel pressured to check your “blackness” at the door, when you arrive at work? How do you handle or perceive your race and your employment? Post a comment or send an email to blackonthejob@yahoo.com.
So, the question is…do you feel pressured to check your “blackness” at the door, when you arrive at work? How do you handle or perceive your race and your employment? Post a comment or send an email to blackonthejob@yahoo.com.
posted by S. Mary Wills at 10:24 AM
2 Comments:
if you go to work focusing on your race than that is how white people will focus on you. We should try to fit in more and not forget who we are but be more blending in with staff. We don't have to make this and that a black issue. maybe it's just the person and not your color.
I have researched how African American women subdue their self-identities in order to conform to a white male dominated organizational culture.
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.
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
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.
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