Week 4 Recap: What Black Employees Really Want for Black History Month (Days 21–28)
- Vanity Jenkins
- Feb 28
- 3 min read
Week 4 of my "What Black people actually want" series for Black History Month wrapped up. I focused on support for Black employees and the Black community at large. Take a look at the synopses and click the links to read more!
Day 21, I got into the intersection of being Black and Autistic at work, which has unique challenges. A Black autistic professional isn’t just navigating neurodiversity; they’re navigating stereotypes about tone, demeanor, assertiveness, and belonging. The same behavior that might be seen as “thoughtful” in someone else can be read as “aggressive,” “inflexible,” or “unfriendly.” I shared strategies for creating and sustaining inclusive workplaces.
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Day 22: I dug into the need to stop the urgency culture and ensure that organizations operate in ways that encourage the health, well-being, and sustainability of their employees. In many organizations, people operate under unrealistic timelines. Let’s be honest: most deadlines are negotiable. We often choose dates because they sound good or feel efficient, not because they’re strategic or sustainable.
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Day 23 focused on colorism, which is bias or discrimination against people with darker skin tones, and its impact is measurable, especially in the workplace. Then we got into practical strategies for addressing and uprooting colorism from organizational norms and culture.
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On day 24, I focused on budget alignment and supporting Black Communities and businesses. I shared strategies for aligning organizational budgets with priorities because equity is about who gets access to your contracts, partnerships, and purchasing power.
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Day 25 focused on nonprofit boards. I shared the importance of structuring boards to keep organizations accountable to the communities they serve, rather than to funders and investors. Shifting that power dynamic is critical because accountability without lived experience isn’t accountability.
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Day 26, I dug into the importance of supporting Black-Led Organizations and Entrepreneurs. Too often in the nonprofit sector, those in executive positions do not share lived experience with the communities they serve. This disconnect shapes strategy, defines what is considered “data,” and influences which solutions are deemed viable.
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Day 27 focused on the ethical considerations of using AI. I talked about the harm that AI is causing in Black communities and the importance of us considering environmental racism when choosing to use AI.
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For day 28, I closed by advocating for organizations to support Black publications and professional organizations. This supports both Black staff and the professional organizations.
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If you’re interested in reading the whole series, you can find the rest of the month here.
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