Rashida Maples, Esq.
, Contributor
Rashida Maples, Esq. is Founder and Managing Partner of J. Maples & Associates(www.jmaplesandassociates.com). She has practiced Entertainment & Fashion, Real Estate and Small Business Law for 9 years, handling both transactional and litigation matters. Her clients include R&B Artists Bilal and Olivia, NFL Superstar Ray Lewis, Fashion Powerhouse Harlem’s Fashion Row, KinderJam, LLC and Hirschfeld Properties, LLC.
With the violence against African-Americans at the hands of the police, along with the organization and expansion of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, the discussion of race has inevitably been brought to the forefront in both our personal and work environments.
Recently, I spoke with a group of friends who all have thriving, successful careers. I connected with them to engage in an honest discussion about how deeply affected we all were by the recent strings of violence against our community and how that pain is translating into our daily lives.
What I learned was actually shocking. Many of them refused to discuss race, #BlackLivesMatter, or their pain with their colleagues.
As a Black executive, your role can be an extremely vulnerable one. Many times there are very few people of color on their teams. It is in this environment that they feel uncomfortable to even bring up any socioeconomic or political issue, much less a hot-button topic like race.
I’ve compiled a few of their responses, which are both emotional and enlightening. They offer a glimpse into life as an executive of color and the weight carried on their shoulders. It is both the weight of being in a position of power and feeling the burden of silence.
“I know that I’m not in a place where I can speak freely and vulnerably without coming off as the angry and sad person that I am. In fact, I’m liable to start crying if I have to talk about it. That’s not a part of myself that I’m at all comfortable with bringing to work. To forums outside of work, sure. But I agree, long-term silence doesn’t help.” – Senior Financial Analyst
“One thing I learned: People at work value your opinion about work and work product. They don’t value your opinion about your personal life, political views, social stances, etc. More often than not, when I am asked my opinion about these killings by the police, I don’t answer because there is no upside. As stated, you will get labeled. I refuse to talk about this at work because my emotional attachment to this issue has nothing to do with my job. Just like when the situation happened in Orlando, I stayed away from conversations other than saying, ‘That was unfortunate and I am sorry for those lost.'” – Accountant
“What’s sad is most business environments, including my own, are choosing to ignore that anything is going on.” – Global Market Director
“At work, I am paid to encourage people to have these ‘difficult conversations,’ but no one wants to hear them. The places that have the conversations [about race and discrimination] lose funds of support. In my office, I can off-hand express my thoughts — ‘Oh wow, look how creative you can be when you don’t have to worry about being shot down in the street and your reputation and family destroyed if it’s not caught on a cell phone.’” – Consultant
The bottom line is we have valid feelings of hurt, sorrow, and frustration regarding what is happening to our community. However, most of those whom I polled share a common thread of belief that nothing said to our non-Black colleagues will be understood, accepted, deemed appropriate to discuss, or genuinely cared about.
DON’T MISS:
Black Lives Matter Releases Policy Demands, Includes Reparations And Abolishing The Death Penalty
How To Avoid An Invasion Of Your Privacy At Work
Know Your Rights: Can Your Social Media Call To Action Lead To Legal Trouble?
Also On HelloBeautiful:
FLOTUS STYLE: Michelle Obama's Best Style Moments
52 photos Launch gallery
1. Lady O
Source:Getty
1 of 52
2. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Anatoly Zhdanov/Kommersant Photo via Getty Images
2 of 52
3. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images
3 of 52
4. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty Images
4 of 52
5. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images
5 of 52
6. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:CHRIS KLEPONIS/AFP/Getty Images
6 of 52
7. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
7 of 52
8. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
8 of 52
9. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
9 of 52
10. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
10 of 52
11. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
11 of 52
12. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
12 of 52
13. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
13 of 52
14. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
14 of 52
15. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
15 of 52
16. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
16 of 52
17. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
17 of 52
18. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
18 of 52
19. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
19 of 52
20. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
20 of 52
21. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
21 of 52
22. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
22 of 52
23. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
23 of 52
24. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
24 of 52
25. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
25 of 52
26. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
26 of 52
27. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
27 of 52
28. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
28 of 52
29. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
29 of 52
30. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
30 of 52
31. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
31 of 52
32. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
32 of 52
33. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
33 of 52
34. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
34 of 52
35. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
35 of 52
36. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
36 of 52
37. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
37 of 52
38. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
38 of 52
39. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
39 of 52
40. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
40 of 52
41. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
41 of 52
42. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
42 of 52
43. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
43 of 52
44. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
44 of 52
45. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
45 of 52
46. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
46 of 52
47. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
47 of 52
48. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
48 of 52
49. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
49 of 52
50. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
50 of 52
51. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
Source:Getty
51 of 52
52. Michelle Obama's Best Looks Ever
52 of 52