On “DEI-SPLAY”: Black Employees That Get Used and Used Up (part of the REAL DEIL™ series)

On “DEI-SPLAY”: Black Employees That Get Used and Used Up (part of the REAL DEIL™ series)

This is what “it” sounds like…. “Congratulations! We want you to give the presentation at this year’s industry-wide conference.” “We’d like to get a photo of you and a quote to include in our recruiting brochure.” “You’ve been selected as a feature...
Memo to Chad: “Smile & Look Pretty”​ as a Career Strategy Won’t Work for Us (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

Memo to Chad: “Smile & Look Pretty”​ as a Career Strategy Won’t Work for Us (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

He directed only one word at me, and I lost it. And it wasn’t because I had noticed him staring at me the whole time. After the n* word, the b* word, and the c* word, this one really gets under my skin. “Smile.” When a single word is followed by a period, it’s a...
The REAL DEIL About Racial Microaggressions: What the “Giver” Needs to Know (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

The REAL DEIL About Racial Microaggressions: What the “Giver” Needs to Know (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

For the record, I hate the term microaggression and would prefer something more accurate such as the “ignorant stuff people say and do.” And for racial microaggressions, I lean toward “regularly occurring racist dumbfuckery.” However, for the sake of...
The Elephant in the Room Is Not Always White: The “IPOC” Part of “BIPOC” (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

The Elephant in the Room Is Not Always White: The “IPOC” Part of “BIPOC” (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

I was crushed. All signs pointed to me. I had tenure, experience, great client feedback. I was missing two things: white skin and a penis The white-identifying Latinx VP of Training informed me that for this major assignment of wide exposure and visibility, she had...
When a Company’s Big BUT Blocks DEI Efforts (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

When a Company’s Big BUT Blocks DEI Efforts (part of the REAL DEIL™️ series)

“Our CEO doesn’t support DEI within the company, BUT……..he does believe in kindness.” Say whut now??? 😳 This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this. It’s a disturbing “trend.” It falls into the same impact category as….. “we’re all human” “all lives matter”...
Day 8 “Crashing” Women’s History Month: “I’m Every Woman”

Day 8 “Crashing” Women’s History Month: “I’m Every Woman”

In time for International Women’s Day, this song and its lyrics contain a message for this moment. The opening alone is EVERYTHANG and has the power to eclipse the “original intent” of the song. I’m every woman, it’s all in me Anything you want done, baby I’ll do it...
Day 4 “Crashing” Women’s History Month: Self-Advocacy Truths (Part II)

Day 4 “Crashing” Women’s History Month: Self-Advocacy Truths (Part II)

Black Let’s continue our conversation from yesterday with an explicit contrast between what cis hetero male centered self-advocacy is and what Black woman centered self-advocacy is. “Traditional” Self-advocacy. The perpetuation of white dominance via speaking up and...

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