The Black Advocate

The designation of Black spaces has long existed in our society. At times, when we enter spaces that are deemed predominately White, there is a backlash. Sometimes, this backlash is subtle; at other times, it is explicit. The uproar experienced by the “Little Rock Nine”—nine Black students who were amongst the first to integrate schools after the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education, ruling racial segregation unconstitutional in public schools—is something that is still experienced today, especially in the professional arena. 

 

Similar to the “Little Rock Nine,” many Black students and professionals today dream of receiving quality education and achieving success in their professional careers. However, as many strive to advance, they are often met with resistance. As we hear rhetoric on what “Black jobs” are, there are some that believe that Black people do not belong in certain rooms. 

 

We witnessed this resistance through acts of racism, such as when Black college students endured seeing bananas hung from nooses around campus, the birther conspiracy against President Barack Obama, racist remarks directed at First Lady Michelle Obama, and the heightened scrutiny during the Senate confirmation hearings of our first Black female Supreme Court Justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, among other instances.

  

This resistance is something that most Black students and professionals experience during their professional journey. However, these experiences are rarely spoken about. Instead, they silently live in the minds of the many who wish to pursue their dreams.

 

They no longer have to live in silence. My hope is that after you read this book, you become more vocal on your journey; you speak on your lived experiences, vent with people you trust, and advocate for change. My goal in this book is not to dwell on the negative discriminatory comments, or even give them space in my book; instead, my goal is to share the strategies and tools that I have learned to combat these comments both externally and internally.

 

My challenges are not unique to me; they live with you as well. By example, I have many friends and family members who are Black professionals in varying fields with similar experiences when it comes to combating discrimination in school or in the workplace. However, I have viewed racial discrimination in two spheres. The first is unfamiliar racists—those you encounter in public, whether they are at the store following you, leaving public areas when you arrive, or blatantly calling you slurs. You do not know them and they do not know you, but they are upset at your mere existence coinciding with theirs. The second is familiar racists—those that you see day in and day out in a professional environment, whether it be at work or school, who discriminate against you through microaggressions, implicit and explicit bias, tokenism, etc. This book is written in part to help you combat the latter group of racists because, in order to succeed in any workplace or environment that is not your own, you will need to learn how to navigate these environments and come out unscathed. 

 

I wrote The Black Advocate to give young Black students and professionals a roadmap to not only navigate through some of these negative external forces, but also to combat internal battles that may leave scars. Internal battles are the most dangerous because they incept the mind and might have one experience imposter syndrome or think that they are not good enough. As a young student, I tried not to give weight to a lot of negativity, but I did not do that alone. I made space for the pain and disappointment and leaned on my family and community heavily to stay focused on my goals. I transmuted the negativity into positivity and used every racist comment as fuel in my fire to keep going. 

 

I created The Black Advocate to build a network of Black professionals that I did not have. Sometimes when people go through difficult times, they stay bitter or mad at the world, but that does not do any good. Some fall victim and become stuck in the lies and negativity that society spews, and they begin to drink the poison. That poison kills all hopes and dreams and leaves people in a state of complacency for the rest of their lives. This book is an antidote to whatever lies or poison you were fed that made you feel lesser than. My goal is to fuel your mind and soul with inspiration and guidance and provide a community you can turn to. 

 

After speaking with many Black professionals about their experiences, I realized that the most effective thing we can do as a community is to build each other up. Not everyone will have the same upbringing or resources needed to navigate the path to success. Sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zone and do something different in order to get the support we need to continue on our journey. My hope is that as I share pieces of my journey and lessons throughout various phases of my life, you become inspired to follow your dreams and act toward achieving your dreams.

 

Dreams can be broken down into actionable steps. This book is written in a way where you can either read from beginning to end or flip to the relevant chapter in your life and receive immediate tips on how to fast-track your success. Life is too short to adopt limiting beliefs or let misguided external factors dictate what you end up doing with your life. I named my book The Black Advocate so that you can begin advocating for yourself. You are deserving, you are worthy, you are powerful, and you will be successful. However, affirmations don’t work unless action is taken. Your success will require work, diligence, patience, and collaboration. The journey to success might feel lonely, but rest assured you now have a community rooting for your success, so the time is now.

 

Now keep in mind, when I decided to pursue a legal education, I also experienced a lot of resistance. I was called racial slurs, ridiculed, and was on the receiving end of countless microaggressions. In my early 20s, I came face to face with overt acts of racism, unlike anything I experienced before entering predominantly White spaces. My experience made me seek solace in other Black professionals and students who knew what I was going through. Just as the “Little Rock Nine” had to stick together by carpooling to school to remain safe in 1957, we had to stick together to survive the backlash. Since quitting was not an option, I knew that to survive we needed community. I recognized that community could provide protection, guidance, and a sense of belonging. Over time, as I gained more knowledge, I became the embodiment of the nurturing community I envisioned for Black professionals and students—leading to the creation of The Black Advocate.

 

Throughout the book, I share some of the pivotal moments of my journey, where I extract lessons—from successes and failures—packaged with hope and positivity. I aim to offer tips and strategies to those who aspire to thrive professionally and elevate their career into an impactful legacy.

 

Creating The Black Advocate has been a dream come true and is a testament to what you can achieve once you follow your dream despite adversity. To my esteemed fellow kings and queens who may find themselves being the minority within their classes, schools, or professions, this book is dedicated to you. Let it serve as a guide through some of your most challenging moments and through your highest achievements. As political activist and philosopher Angela Davis said, "I am no longer accepting things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” Be the change that you hope for. Be the professional you dream of. Be the resistance with The Black Advocate.