Go Ahead and Clap Back: Respectability Will Not Save You

As someone who loves Blackness—Black people, Black culture, Black music—I believe it's crucial to address the complex issues surrounding Black Excellence and respectability politics.

We have all heard it: Black people have to work twice as hard to be seen as the equivalent. 

Black Excellence, as it stands, aligns with a system that oppressed us—a system that exploited our ancestors and continues to thrive today. In our desperation for acceptance, we often chip away at parts of our culture that don't fit into the mold set by oppressors. It's a rigged game, and the powers that be will never see us as equals.

The Rigged Game of Black Excellence

Black employees tend to receive more scrutiny from their bosses than their white colleagues, meaning that small mistakes are more likely to be caught. Over time, this leads to worse performance reviews and lower wages.

Some data demonstrates the unfortunate reality: Black workers receive extra scrutiny from bosses, which can lead to worse performance reviews, lower wages, and even job loss. The NBER paper, "Discrimination and Worker Evaluation," by Costas Cavounidis and Kevin Lang of Boston University, attempts to demonstrate how discrimination factors into company decisions and creates a feedback loop, resulting in racial gaps in the labor force.

Black workers generally earn less than U.S. workers overall, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2022. Among full-time wage and salary workers, the median weekly earnings for Black workers ages 16 and older are $878, compared with $1,059 for all U.S. workers in the same age group. Among workers of other races and ethnicities in the same age group, the median weekly earnings are $823 for Hispanic workers, $1,085 for White workers, and $1,401 for Asian workers. The differences hold when accounting for education level – Black workers earn less than those in other groups, even among workers with bachelor’s or advanced degrees.

Black workers are the most likely to say they’ve experienced discrimination at work because of their race or ethnicity, according to a February 2023 Center survey of U.S. workers. About four in ten Black workers (41%) say they have experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly by an employer in hiring, pay, or promotions because of their race or ethnicity. Much smaller shares of Asian (25%), Hispanic (20%) and White (8%) workers say the same.

Among Black workers, 48% of men and 36% of women say they’ve experienced discrimination or unfair treatment by an employer due to their race. There are no gender differences among White and Hispanic workers, and the sample size for Asian workers is too small to analyze men and women separately.

Further, the February survey shows that a quarter of U.S. workers say being Black makes it harder to succeed where they work. Just 8% of U.S. workers say being Black makes it a little or a lot easier to be successful where they work, 50% say it makes it neither easier nor harder, and 17% aren’t sure.

Among Black workers, 51% say that being Black makes it harder to succeed where they work. By comparison, 41% of Asian, 23% of Hispanic and 18% of White workers view being Black as a disadvantage in their workplace. And about four in ten or fewer Asian (39%), Hispanic (29%), and White (7%) workers say that being their own race or ethnicity makes it harder to be successful where they work.

Finally, being yourself at work and speaking up against micro-aggressions takes bravery but not doing so can cause BIPOC workers harm. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a "great resignation" ensued with 4 million Americans quitting their jobs last July, spurred by the pandemic and latent workplace bigotry.

Can being excellent eradicate any of the above? 

I think not. Whether it's criticizing someone for wearing a bonnet outside, tone-policing a clapback, or judging people for not adhering to white standards of professionalism, it all needs to stop. True freedom is being comfortable in your own skin, regardless of how others perceive you.

Redefining Black Excellence

Our current system doesn't leave room for all Blackness. It doesn't celebrate our elders, our youth, or the many faces and facets that define Black culture. It’s exclusive and implicitly anti-Black. If I have to cut off parts of myself or step on others to be seen as successful, then I don't want any part of it. 

Broader Implications

Respectability politics extends beyond race. Women, for instance, often face blame after experiencing sexual assault or abuse, as if their actions or appearance somehow invited such violence. But the truth is, the determining factor of assault is not the survivor but the perpetrator.

This pressure to conform is mentally exhausting and has been passed down for generations. It can lead to mental health challenges, including shame, anxiety, and identity confusion. It's crucial to challenge these harmful narratives and support mental wellness.

Practical Tips for Challenging Respectability Politics

Here are some tips to challenge respectability politics and support mental wellness at work and in life:

1. Reflect on the respectability beliefs you've internalized.

2. Identify environments where you feel pressured to conform.

3. Distance yourself from people who make you question your worth.

4. Connect with communities that affirm your value.

5. Practice self-affirmation and remember that being yourself is a form of activism.

✨ New episode alert! ✨ Check out "The Ajayi Effect" podcast to learn why respectability is a fruitless effort.