Learning to Work with Your "Peoples"

I wanted to revisit an old issue discussed in an earlier entry. This issue has been raised to me several times over the summer. I would love to hear from some of you about your personal experiences, opinions and suggestions to us all as we look to the future and move forward.


Over the years I have found that one of the greatest skills of successful Black professionals has been their ability to work as well with other African Americans as they do with White Americans (and others). This may surprise some of you, but to some of you, I have just "pulled you out of the closet!"

The inability of some African American business and professional people to work together and value their "own" has caused many of us to miss out on excellent career and business opportunities. In the process of all of this self-hate, poor treatment and service delivery to one another, many of us have had the legs cut from under our careers, businesses, educations, families and our communities. But guess what, those of us that get it and treat each other with dignity and respect, move forward, become pillars in our communities, successful professionals and business people, and promote the personal and professional growth of other talented and deserving African Americans. This is clearly a competency all Black professionals need to master if they want to develop a professional edge.

Like many of you some of my best and worst professional experiences have come at the hands of other Black people. Over the years I have been blessed with many great Black professional colleagues and mentors that have supported my personal and professional growth and invested their time and talents in my development. I have also felt the sting of jealous, ignorant, and hateful Black folks, many of whom I trusted, who engaged in a personal war of sabotage of my work, reputation, and career. The "hateful stuff" reminds me of the sick dynamics of the old slave plantations when some of the "house slaves" reportedly did everything in their power to keep the "field slaves" out of "the house" including telling the "master" everything and anything to sustain their place as Master's mos'tis loyal, competent, and trustworthy Negro. It was a sad commentary than, and its sadder today, not to mention it really gets crazy today when "the house" is sometimes owned and operated by us!

A great scholar, mentor, and friend of mine at Howard once said, "If you can't work with your own as a Black professional it will one day catch up and ruin your career." The older I get the more I have found that statement to be true and more profound.

Its really all about delivering! If you are a talented and competent Black professional, other Black professionals need to look pass your color, value your contribution and ability, and proceed to promote, compensate and do everything in their power to empower, reward, and see you succeed---just like we demand White folks do! But If you can't deliver, are messy and inconsistent in handling your business, everyone (Black, White etc.) should respectfully and decisively move on. We all know that there are some really sloppy Black "bit-ness people" out there who talk a good game, but are always a "day late and a dollar short." The problem is that you can't judge all Black businesses and professional people because a few sloppy people got pass your radar. In the long run you may miss out on great new talent and opportunity if you behave like other bigots and judge all Black professionals based on the foolishness and incompetence of a few.

Also, if I can make it plain, don't hate, sabotage, or discredit, a brother or sister who is trying to strive for professional excellence (and than further show your ignorance by accusing them of "acting white")! It's not a matter of their "Blackness" because of their professionalism, ambition, and "queen's verbiage;" but sometimes its more about some people's lack of ambition, poor professional judgement, and sloppy work ethics. One thing about great Black professionals, particularly in the past, they faced down amazing odds, and still delivered at a level of excellence that people today still can't figure out. I guess some people accused them of "acting white" too. Some of us need to stop "putting a color on excellence!" I'm feeling you Barrack!

A few other "house rules" pun is intended:

• I have observed over the years that some Black professionals don't respect the position or authority of other African American professionals they work with. Don't assume that because a senior person in your organization is Black that you can speak out of turn with them, question their credibility and decisions. I guess if they put you in your place, as they should, they are the Uncle Tom or the "incognito Black want-a-be"...WRONG! Respect his or her position, accomplishments, and authority. Maybe if you pipe down, successful Black professionals in your organization will see through your bad attitude and apparent lack of training, and work with you in developing your talents and career. Getting "too common" in your behavior toward other Black professionals, is a classic sign that you probably haven't been anywhere, and if you keep it up you probably won't.

• Some of you also need to get rid of that "iron curtain" you lift up every time you have to work with other Black people...especially if you leave the curtain open for everyone else! Some of you don't realize that you are acting like the blind Black bigot in the famous Dave Chappelle skit who was a racist but didn't know that he too was Black! When you discriminate against your own people YOU look ridiculous, and White folks that you may be trying to impress will eventually see through your shallow act and begin labeling you as the real problem.

If you are going to succeed as a young African American professional you will need to be culturally competent just like everyone else. Don't think you will get away with "color-coded behavior" toward other Black people to get ahead, this isn't kindergarten. Instead focus on professional performance and healthy working relationships with all professionals you work with. Require and support excellence with all people you work with across the board. We all know that there are still racial barriers to Black professionals in the workplace, but don't let those barriers be created or perpetuated by you.

Let us know what you think.

kwells@howard.edy

Kim R. Wells