We’ve all heard the quote by Malcolm X, of how the Black woman is the most disrespected person in America, and the most unprotected and neglected person in this country. We also know that this disrespect and neglect occurs in all areas of a Black woman’s life, including the workplace.
So what happens when your life is compounded with disrespect; no matter which direction you turn, there is someone trying to bring you down, instead of lifting you up? Who do we turn to? Where do we go for help? Who is coming to protect and save us?
Research indicates that professional Black women lack safe spaces to be vulnerable. We are often retaliated against when we speak up in the workplace, or we are negatively labeled as aggressive, angry, or difficult to work with. When we file discrimination cases, we are least likely to be believed, while our family members naively encourage us to "be strong" for the sake of that "good job."
Due to the enormous lack of support, professional Black women have a tendency to suffer with physical and mental health issues, such as high blood pressure, hair loss, depression, heart disease, and even death. We are only in the fourth month of 2024 and have already witnessed the public lynchings of Dr. Claudine Gay, Dr. Candia Bailey, and Angel Reese. We have watched as society tried to tear down these Black women in real time. And although we came together and showed support, behind closed doors who really had their backs? Who was there to give them the space that they needed to grow and heal from the trauma they endured?
Personally, we each recognize what they went through, we knew their stories… because we’ve been there at some point in our careers. While experiencing my own trauma in the workplace, I vowed if I ever made it out alive I would do everything within my power to ensure that other Black women never went through such devastation, that they never felt alone, and they had the support that they needed to make it out on the other side. This is why I create the Unbreak My Soul workbook and begin to focus on creating safe spaces for other Black women to exhale, be vulnerable, and receive the support that we often desperately need.
A few weeks ago, someone asked me whose responsibility is it to protect Black women. I realize that our protection and healing begins and ends with us. No one is coming to save us. It is our responsibility (Black women) to save ourselves. But I am only one person, and I can not do this work alone. This is why I’ve begun to I train others to be facilitators; offering Black women an opportunity to learn about work trauma, and how to create effective safe spaces and facilitate trainings utilizing the materials and resources I have created over the years.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of certifying the first cohort of Unbreak My Soul Facilitators. As my team and I begin to plan to next training, I am looking for more women to join us in helping others to understand how toxic workplaces impact Black women, while helping Black women on their healing journey.
The next certification training will take place in late August/early September and I’d love for you to join us. If you are interested in learning how you can become a part of this movement, click here and complete a short questionnaire.
Dr. Carey Yazeed is a Behavioral Scientist and the creator of the program and workbook, Unbreak My Soul: How Black Women Can Begin To Heal From Workplace Trauma
First, my god, do I LOVE that new photo of you. Just LOVE it. Second, and I realize that your opening salvo may not necessarily mean all of us wyte women, not all of us have heard the Malcolm X saying but we bloody well should have. I just want to support your work here, and especially since I know you are carrying great personal grief, salute your commitment not only to your own process but also to that of your sisters. Respect, Dr.Y.
There are real significant issues peculiar to black women in America. Naturally, as a black man I understand SOME of them because there is overlap in our experience. Being married to a black woman for 37 years gives me SOME additional insight. However, not walking in those shoes myself I cannot claim a full grasp of the issues of vulnerability leading to feelings of fear resulting in anxiety and depression. Men are told that you will experience racism and prejudice resulting in many forms of violence against you so it is expected and sometimes we boast about our having overcome the issues. Men live in a world where a certain amount of violence is expected no matter who you are and we are socialized into believing that It becomes a badge of courage to have endured. Generally, women in our culture have significantly less of that insulation as they are more likely to be protected by males. Black males however are in less of a position to protect black women in this culture. The power over life, death, is not shared equally with us here. Black women are therefore subjected to negative experiences in far greater numbers than their white counterparts and must develop a harder shell to overcome this challenge. I salute the toughness of black women and when I see that game face on I know the deal.