Op-Ed: Can We Stop Seizing Power and Influence from Black Women?
Written by Jessica Roiz on January 5, 2024
Claudine Gay‘s resignation from her historic position as the first Black female president of Harvard University makes one thing abundantly clear—it’s another loss of a Black woman in a position of power.
This loss, in particular, is not uncommonly seen but “hits differently” as we know the root cause.
In an op-ed she wrote for The New York Times, Gay spoke about how a chain of events in her leadership position became personally harrowing. “My inbox has been flooded with invective, including death threats. I’ve been called the N-word more times than I care to count.
“Those who had relentlessly campaigned to oust me since the fall often trafficked in lies and ad hominem insults, not reasoned argument. They recycled tired racial stereotypes about Black talent and temperament. They pushed a false narrative of indifference and incompetence.”
Her early exit is not in a vacuum. According to Catalyst.org, only 4.4% of Black women are in management positions and 19thNews.com writes only 1.4% hold C-suite positions, despite being 7.4% of the U.S. population. The wage gap for Black women means they make less on average than white men and white women in similar positions, as reported by Forbes.
In July 2023, EBONY explored how six Black women executives had exited positions of power in the entertainment industry, mainly from DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) positions, potentially curtailing the hiring and nurturing of more women and people of color in the industry.
Malcolm X’s 1962 speech stated, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”
From Megan Thee Stallion to Claudine Gay, Black women’s struggle for respect, dignity and equity are all interconnected. Often left the most vulnerable, Black women do not get the grace to navigate challenges publicly. This is especially true when given the title “first and only.”
Unfortunately, Black women experiencing toxicity in the workplace and higher academia is all too commonplace. Timeless tales have been shared about concrete ceilings and daily harassment; there’s even a TV series devoted to the micro and major aggressions directed toward Black women in the corporate workplace.
The true loss here is for young Black women who have been stripped of visible representation in leadership positions at top academic institutions, offering inspiration and role modeling for those aspiring toward executive and leadership careers.
The future must consist of understanding the underlying issues Black women face in corporate and academia. There must be a thorough exploration of solutions to ensure equitable opportunities for Black women by addressing systemic biases and fostering a more inclusive work environment.
In a past interview with EBONY, civil rights attorney and Harvard Law School graduate Areva Martin emphasized the need for workplace unity and allyship for the Black community.
“Those who are in positions of power should be doing everything they can…and continue to use their power in their places of business to create more opportunities to advance in the workplace beyond mid-level management and create more C-suite and more executive level positions for our community,” she shared. That includes more mentorship opportunities and championing Black women once they are in top-level positions.
In 2024, let’s stop seizing Black women from positions of power and influence.
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