Dear White Boss: How to Support and Advocate for Your Black Employees in the Workplace

Dear White Boss I’m literally laughing, but have the serious face while I’m typing this. It’s COVID-19. While white people are out protesting about wanting to reopen the economy, black people, particularly black men, are using this as a vacation from the stressors of being in the corporate setting, or the office, in general. Yes! This is our time to freely work from home, with our beards flourishing, and growing out our hair, without the unnecessary comments or weird looks from our white counterparts; when we can just be ourselves without criticism. I can walk to my patio in my “wife beater” and jogger shorts, wearing my durag, while I’m on lunch. I can smoke my cigar and play my trap music on my “allotted” time.

Even though I’m a classy dresser, I made my white counterparts “comfortable” with my appearance and how well-spoken I am. I can be at home and actually be myself during an eight hour shift, purposefully using incorrect grammar, or what do they call it again?? Oh “Ebonics” or slang... I’m home and I’m enjoying being my carefree black self, in the comforts of MY space. No more nervously walking past me in the hallway, turning the corner and jumping, because they’re startled to see my black face, weird stares, because of the hair on my head or face, or their attempts to say a joke to keep me smiling, because who wants the “angry black man” huh?

It's hilarious, texting all my friends about COVID-19 and employment; how many are not complaining about not being able to go into the office, saying COVID-19 can continue the remainder of the year, or just needed a “break.” We are the workers, but do we receive credit at all? Of course not. The cool thing about this entire quarantine is that we black men are exploring lanes we never touched; from Meditation and Yoga, to establishing a healthier diet, to exercising, to reading and gaining knowledge about topics we never explored. A lot of us are just learning to apply more TLC to ourselves, whether it's establishing a strict grooming regimen (yes the beard, hair and skin are flourishing), resting the body and mind, trying new foods, or visiting a place in your city you’ve never been.

After all the things I listed, do we now say COVID-19 is a horrible thing, yes of course. There are people losing their lives to this pandemic. Do we as black men have that guilty pleasure of just being away from the work place and enjoying literally every minute of it? Well let’s not say guilty pleasure ha-ha, but let’s just say COVID has literally been a curse and blessing. Personally, I’m feeling better and looking better. I recently sent my manager a selfie, oh yeah my braces are off, and she wanted to see my new smile. She said you look so happy! Oh yeah very happy! Blessed because through these times I still have employment, but hey I’ve been home for 4 months now working. This time away from work, as a black man is what I needed! Do you agree?