Resilience Rising

Black Women Overcoming Work Place Trauma

The corporate landscape has long been fraught with challenges for Black women, who often face the compounded burdens of racism and sexism in the workplace. From micro-aggressions to outright discrimination, the trauma of navigating these obstacles can take a devastating toll. Yet, amidst the struggles, a powerful movement of resilience is emerging.

This blog serves as a journal for Black women who are reclaiming their space, finding their voice, and rising above the workplace trauma that has held them back. Through candid stories, practical strategies, and a community of support, let’s explore the journey towards healing, empowerment, and transformative change. It's time to shift the narrative and showcase the indomitable strength that has always fueled the success of Black women in the professional world.

As a black women we learned to stay in our place in the workplace, afraid to be opinionated to avoid the angry black women syndrome, downplaying our wardrobe to side step the whispers of inappropriate attire because our bodies are a little curvier than our white counterparts, Careful to find balance in our tone so we aren’t viewed as aggressive. We go back and forth in our mind pondering, when is the appropriate time to demand our value in asking for equal compensation.

My Story

I worked for a 3rd party collection agency located in Gahanna, Ohio and I'll never forget how I busted my ass to secure a $28,000 payoff from a consumer. I focused on that account day in-out, I worked every angle to skip trace and locate this consumer because the account was at least 15 years old. After all of my efforts and skills of course .........I found him. But that was just the beginning of this process, of course Ihad to use my skills of negotiation to get him to pay a 15 year old Fannie Mae account. Really, an old student loan debt! I Finally closed the account, and of course I was extremely proud because my work paid off so I thought! When it came to commission payout, I was only given a percentage of the commission, my check was missing about $1500.Im counting on this money, at the time I was a single mom and I had bills to pay, and truth be told I had plans.

The department manager, who usually swaggered in to heap praise on my efforts, called off that day and I was left to defend myself in front of the CEO and COO - both white women who regarded me with thinly veiled contempt. Anticipating my contempt they had already crafted a reason as to why it was FAIR. I knew I had to tread carefully, because in the past my colleagues were fired for less. I tried to deliver my argument in a way to side step the "angry Black woman” label for daring to stand up for myself. I was angry though but who wouldn’t have been. How dare they short-change me after all the blood, sweat, and tears I had poured into this account?! I took a deep breath and began laying out my case, choosing my words with the utmost precision. I highlighted the immense value I had delivered, the effort I had put in, including reflecting on the incentive structure. But no matter how eloquent and reasonable I tried to be, I could see the CEO and COO exchange loaded glances, their lips pursed unwilling to budge.

They stuck to their guns, depriving me of the compensation I had rightfully earned. I left that meeting fuming, my mind racing with a torrent of emotions - disappointment, and a simmering sense of injustice that refused to subside.

At this point, I began reflecting on my value. I began thinking about all the injustices that we as black women face in Corporate America.

Types of Behavior We Have Endured

• Bullying

• Psychological abuse / Hostility

• Micro-aggression - Listening to senior leadership mock Black Culture – all in fun of course. OVERLOOKING US -Invisible

• Unethical words and behavior

• Sexual harassment (Direct and Indirect)

How Do We Heal?

Unfortunately, in my experience Human Resources was never a safe space. HR role is to be a resource for all employees not just for managers or to protect executives.

• We must acknowledge our trauma and also be aware of our triggers. Take a deep breath and look at yourself in the mirror and say, “You have been traumatized in the workplace.”

• You can either stay and finds ways to advocate for yourself or change the environment that causes the trauma.

• Listen and observe your surroundings, who else is receiving the same treatment.

• Sharing with friends or trusted parties that have experienced the same behavior, their job is to listen. Like any other ways to healing from trauma, utilize therapy. Sometimes larger corporations have onsite counseling or will pay for up to 6 counseling sessions for employees.

• Use your self-care / personal days.

• Take a 7-10 minute walk or light jog

• Prayer or Meditation

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Watch the unbelievable experiences of women working through the trauma brought on by Corporate America