Labor Day Reflections

I Have PTSD from Working at PWIs

Working in predominately white institutions (PWIs) has worn me out

Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash

This week we celebrated Labor Day and I want to salute all the Black and brown people who muster up enough strength to work for predominately white institutions (PWIs) where we’re paid less for the same job titles with more effort and credentials.

Happy Labor Day to Black people who go to work even after we’re often passed over for promotions for our privileged counterparts — not based on merit, credentials, or performance, but on the comfort of our administrators. Becky and Bob get promoted because they look, sound, and act like our predominately privileged administrators — while they ask us to be patient.

Happy Labor Day to all the Black and brown people who are forced to code-switch and hold their tongues so we can make everyone else comfortable as we endure hostile, unprofessional microaggressions, harassment, and constant invasions of our bodies and personal space.

This Labor Day — I’m admitting I have Post Traumatic Syndrome based on my countless encounters with:

· Unhinged unchecked Privilettas aka Karens who’ve been allowed to jump in my face, call me a large farm animal, file complaints and call the police…