Do White Business Men of America Want Real Change?
While my book has a message for any and everyone working within corporate America; it is ultimately a call to action for the white male CEO in power in this country.
I poured my heart and soul into Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague because I was determined to position myself as an expert so that I could FINALLY have the ear of those that had the power to truly make change.
Almost every single day since the release of my book I have reached out to white men, personally asking them to read and share my book. Countless times these white men have committed to buying in bulk, sharing it with athletes and other high level CEOs, inviting me to podcast and speaking engagements, etc. etc. Sadly the majority of these promises have proven to be nothing but a bunch of lip service.
I’ve toyed with the idea of calling them out publicly, but we all know that despite the circumstances and what I perceive to be my justification that wouldn’t end well for me.
I’m fully aware that attempting to tell someone that their privilege causes harm and that they have a responsibility to use it to make the world a better place will never be easy. I also never set out
A white women once told me that my website and credentials were not appealing to them and that I needed to invest more time and money in the pursuit of accolades and a top tier branding and marketing company. Shortly after, a book event manager blatantly informed me that she couldn’t represent me because these men along with any other professional in the C-suite would never book me due to the lack of respect they would have for me after hearing my Southern accent. Yep she said it, and thought that I would find humor and some weird form of solidarity in it because she too was a “Southern Belle”.
Then there is the white man that sarcastically chuckled in my face while reminding me of how large his company was and how he was in talks with Robin DiAngelo. His condescending demeanor was my was my hint that he would never be reaching back out to me to discuss any potential partnership.
I’ve had a few news reporters and business coaches ask me how I do it? Why I continue to do it? Why not steer away from your bold talks about Anti-Racism in the workplace and focus on general diversity. They assured me that if I would simply neutralize my message I would reap a much faster and larger harvest in my pursuits. My answer was simple. I didn’t start this work with a harvest in mind and I simply can’t begin to promote my work with a harvest in mind.
My work, my calling, my purpose, my message is genuine!
If I were to steer away from my message I would be walking away from the very mission that I set out daily to do. Please do not get me wrong, I am doing the work and so many people are benefiting from it, but so many more could if only those in power were just as genuine about getting to the core of the ongoing issues that we have in the country.
If you are reading this and can attest to the need for this call to action to be heard I would like to encourage you to please share my book with a CEO or Business Leader who has the capacity to make change. I assure you that I’ve invested every possible dollar that I can in my branding and marketing and although my message is delivered with my accent of origin I can assure you that it changes lives for the better.
This entry is associated with Yum Yum Morale Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategies & Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague
