The Black Mirror Phenomenon

In today's episode Guilaine begins by reflecting on how people who are racialised as Black who are introverts are treated at work, her thoughts on this are still cooking but she has been noticing more and more testimony and stories from Black people about these experiences.

She begins by thinking about the ways she herself is an introvert. Then she asks some questions:

Have you noticed that Black people who are introverted tend to be maligned and face particular racialised challenges in the workplace?

Have you noticed that when Black people get into disputes or conflicts in the workplace it is important for them to provide reassurance to the rest of the team and make it clear that they are okay? She calls this an expectation of Emotional Transparency.

Have you ever noticed that Black people who keep themselves to themselves in the workplace are expected to reveal themselves and be readable/accessible to others?

She names and frames all of the above as The Black Mirror Phenomenon. And then muses about how it is formed, how it operates  how it connects to theories around colonialities and blackness and projection, and the risks that it creates in terms of group dynamics and the outcomes these dynamics have on racialised individuals 

She ends by considering some potential solutions and strategies to navigate this phenomena.

Authenticity in the workplace: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/1623760/episodes/10665249-authenticity

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