Therapy Isn't Just for White People by Kiara Imani

Author:Kiara Imani [Imani, Kiara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lit Riot Press
Published: 2022-08-09T07:00:00+00:00

Part 8

The Corporate Corset

Growing up in Manassas, Virginia, my family and I were always surrounded by White people. Our mayor was White, our pastor was White, and most of our friends and neighbors were White. We often were the only Black family in the room.

Being the only Black person in the room was exhausting. People asked me questions about my hair, like how often I washed it, and whether it was real. Sometimes people made references to random rap songs I’d never heard of as if I was supposed to know every song written by every Black rapper. I especially grew tired of being asked to be a spokesperson on behalf of all Black people.

As the only Black person in the room, I grew used to navigating in uncomfortable spaces and through awkward conversations. I brushed it off when my neighbors made racially insensitive comments. Whenever a racial issue popped up in the news, the White people in our community turned to my family and me. They asked us for our opinions and to explain the Black point of view. Sometimes, they were receptive. Other times, they grew defensive.

Growing up as the only Black person prepared me for working in a predominately White corporate America. Working in corporate America, I was forced to be productive in the face of inappropriate comments from coworkers and discriminatory policies. Despite my preparation, my experiences were so taxing on my mental health that eventually I made the decision to walk away from corporate America altogether.

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