F**k a statement, do better by your Black employees!

Amidst a torrent of statements knitting a quilt of compassion for Black lives are the many companies who've neglected a nasty history of racism within their own walls. The line in the sand that once regarded corporations valuing Black life as radical has been washed away with the tide. But, Black pain is not a just PR opportunity and while I won’t imply that every statement is disingenuous for a lot of Black Americans they are shocking. They are also dangerous, implying you have always invested in supporting Black people/employees when you have not will inevitably lead to our continued suffering. 

My former employer, your favorite e-signature provider, is one of those companies. Suddenly they want to “agree to end racism and hate wherever it exists” and have donated money to a Black organization I’d presume they’ve never made any effort to support prior. I burst into tears when I saw it, overwhelmed with convulsions to vomit, it's been over a year since i’ve worked there and it still hurts. Screaming! Where were you when my white manager tortured me for a year? Where were you when the burden of fixing the "Black issues" at your company were instead placed on our shoulders? Where were you for all of the Black employees who suffered trauma at your hand? Why the hell didn't our Black Lives Matter to you before? These companies with a rotating door of Black professionals that have been thrust out because elitism and racism goes unchecked on their teams, among their white people managers and in leadership. Ambitious and qualified Black professionals who have had the motivation bled from their bodies when an employer does not have the infrastructure in place to support their Blackness. I’d been too afraid to speak out before, only warning the magnitude of my former employer's unsafe environment in private. As companies have begun capitalizing on the Black tragedy that's now made it fashionable to speak up in support of the Black community, I am compelled to speak up about them addressing their insidious racism internally.

What I need you to understand is that this flood of conveniently timed statements of “support” are painful, triggering and nauseating for many Black professionals all over the country. How would you feel seeing the same companies that had zero support for your Blackness while you are/were an employee instantaneously declaring they care? See San Francisco 49ers/NFL vs. Colin Kapernick. A 2019 survey by Glassdoor found that “42% of US employees have seen or experienced racism at work...in addition to lagging racial diversity and inclusion efforts.” Employers do not get to pick & choose when to care about Black lives, Black people have never had that privilege.

A statement is barely a start. Instead take the time to thoughtfully consider the ways your organization has directly contributed to the pain of Black employees past & present, reach back and make amends. Examine the fact that your diversity numbers are dismal outside of whiteness and women, ask why? Black Americans working in organizations like this have suffered a number of abuses in these spaces. Spaces that are not designed to support their professional success or hear their voices or defend them in times of unfairness. Where compounding micro-aggressions and bias oppress them daily.  

Acknowledging and apologizing to the Black employees who you may have harmed is a better start. 

Commit to anti-racism policies all employees must adhere to & will be held to, hire professionals to guide open & often conversations about anti-racism, hold those perpetuating racism and bias accountable, terminate for violations, revisit your hiring and performance evaluation processes ask do they stifle your ability to attract and retain Black talent? Invest in the success of your Black employees, build relationships with the Black communities where you operate; study how your products & services impact those communities and ask do they improve the situation or do more harm? Correct pay disparity among your Black employees and their white peers. Prioritize true diversity at every level of the business. How will you show Black employees you value what they care about? That you value them. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of what it takes to show up for your Black employees but above all else, you will need to get real about eradicating racism in your workplace, not just for a moment, forever. Listen, learn and make conscious continuous decisions that support change. Permanently become an actively anti-racist organization instead of gaslighting for public applause, likes and retweets. 

If a statement is your start, then start over with these considerations. Writing a check, saying you’ll have a training, and thinking you can all feel good about yourselves is not enough, now is the time to deeply commit. My hope is that this is a catalyst for authentic change at these employers, not just puffery. Our real Black pain matters. Our real Black Lives Matter. It matters everywhere our Black body is, including at work. 

In the words of the Notorious B.I.G,

“We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves.”

That is the position I am begging employers to explore. Roll up your sleeves and do the damn work. Let the light of your Black employees really shine. Cultivate a space where Black employees can thrive without worry that the wrong white gaze set upon us will put our opportunities and livelihoods at risk of being stolen.

Black professionals, if you ever find yourself in a situation where your experience, success and psychological safety are not prioritized by your employer or anyone for that matter, I urge you to move on. It will never be worth it. Find a place that respects you, your talent, your voice and what you bring to the table. Take it from me, you will absolutely regret letting any employer treat you any less than you deserve.

My mom always says

“never write a check your ass can’t cash”

these newly minted corporate statements of support for Black Lives Matter are the checks and accountability is the cash.

By: Shamika Abraham, Black woman working in tech, born and raised in Oakland, Ca.

All opinions expressed are my own and do not represent my employer past, present or future.