PUBLISHER'S PEACEThere's More Than
Enough
One of my dearest friends asked me last week to comment on this very
exclusive gathering of powerful sisters that took place at this very high end
restaurant downtown Chicago.
She wanted to get my prophetic thoughts on how this looked from the
outside being a man; and did anything, from what she expressed to me, triggered
opinions. After she laid out the format and some of the main players and invited
guests, she also told me that you clearly could see some dissension between some
groups of women.
It was visible. And as people assembled, like most progressive
professionals, individuals gravitate into packs. Her main question was: 'why
don't black people (women) come together for progress and not just show?'
My answer was very simple. But of course, not as simple to
execute....Black folks have grown up in this exiled world of limited resources.
We [blacks] have never seen real wealth and immense progress; and have also
never seen, for instance, jobs or opportunities in an abundance. Plain and
simple: We've lived under the impression that there is never enough to go around
whenever a door opens!
So when even executives or professionals reach a certain status, they
feel that they're the exception. Therefore, there is no room at the table for
more than one or two, at best. And as they do all the right things to feel
accepted within the corporate culture, they most times don't reach back when the
opportunity opens up to bring their forgotten peers along for the joy-ride.
These people in mention are confused and totally wrong in their
assessment. There is more than enough room for anyone who aspires to climb and
progress. They've been clearly mislead, and or either, have never traveled the
world at large.
Because if they've spent time exploring and examining the
world around them - even within their own professional work environment, they'll
see the unlimited resources available.
It's being used and shared by others, who've invited their sisters,
brothers, cousins, mothers and grandmothers, as well as their neighbors to raise
their communities through the very system that these Negroes, somehow, don’t
think exist. But maybe, just maybe for some, their ranking in the select
companies doesn't allow them to reach back. Their presence is barely felt.
They're just holding on and trying to ascend to the next level, as well. This
can be the case, in most instances.
Here is what's most troubling when you evaluate the lack of reaching
back. It's really not about reaching back to just get into the exclusive room.
While waiting to leap, these particular individuals can utilize their skills
and insight to reach as far back as they can into their own communities to
(mentor) the next generation of potential corporate leaders. It's important to
show them how not to just climb the corporate ladder, but how to escape the
hood. This is what they need most!
When we prescribe to this narrative, then we can accept the fact that
it's absolutely more than enough to go around for those who want to ascend. We
most help as many people as possible who's been exiled from mainstream America
to know that there is more than enough! Peace and One
Love.
I Write to
Differ...
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