Well, here’s another post. This one for someone leaving a job that they genuinely enjoyed. I’ve written this post before–when I worked for Liberty Science Center. Although I’m leaving the National Radio Astronomy Observatory this Friday, it feels like I’m starting something new.
As said before, I’ve worn many hats and worked on many weird and cool projects, and I feel like I should provide more unrequested old, Blackman, advice (“ahem”):
- There are sundown towns–places that ban African Americans–in companies, industries, and geographic areas. These spaces are not safe for Black folk, and they are frequently invisible and not initially obvious. Connect with your network to identify them.
- A litmus test for a company or organization is whether or not there is a functional, grassroots, employee-run organization within the company or organization focused on your needs. If there is one, join it. Every successful job I’ve held had such an organization. I’m very skeptical of company-sponsored employee resource groups. Like company-created “unions”: they rarely have the interest of the members at heart. Also consider joining organizations that span multiple companies like NSBE, for example. But the same skepticism applies here as well. Too many of these organizations are captured by their corporate sponsors instead of being positioned to challenge corporate leadership by disrupting racism. Tread lightly.
- When I heard about the racist Anti-DEI movement and their list of bad words to scrub from websites, organizational knowledge, and communication, I said “Let them come.” Caving in to racists and acting like there is some magical words to avoid or say that will make them leave you alone is a mistake. They will always find something bad because they are really interested in undermining the institution. Let them come and be specific about what they want removed and why–forcing them to spend energy and time. My observation of the current regime is that they are about appearances and “optics” and not developing policies. They know eliminating DEI won’t increase the number of jobs for white people. Their agenda is to destroy the targeted program or organization knowing that their base loves the appearance of Black folk quitting or being forced out.
- We’re fighting people with deep pockets and public relations firms–astroturf vs. grassroots racists. Keep this in mind when you organize.
- It’s not enough, if you’re a person who identifies as white, to look around and wonder where the African Americans are in your group or organization. Ask yourself the better question: what in it for Black folk to be involved in your effort? Successful STEM/STEAM/STEMM efforts are always initiated with or by the targeted communities. Swooping in like a white superhero–no matter how good your intensions–is rarely successful.