Black Millenials Thriving: Playing Smart in the workplace!

Black Millennials and generations coming after them are breaking free from the work survival mode.

"Work hard, Slave hard" mentality inherited from colonial rule throughout the Caribbean and the Americas, evolved into capitalism, which is still deeply entrenched in corporate entities. Maximum financial profit at the least cost! Thankfully, free and abject labor is no longer permitted in Western countries; however, the mindset of many of our elders has been shaped by colonial rule and passed on to Europe-born generations. The baby boomers were made to believe, at first, that hard and honest labor were essential to survive, let alone thrive!

Whilst the colonizers mastered the art of scheming, manipulating, gaslighting, intimidating, sabotaging, and exercising supremacy, the enslaved learned to stay alive whilst expected to perform in inhumane conditions, disconnect from their emotions at the expense of their mental health, resist, escape, die trying, or betray and submit to the rule.

Black scholars, such as the late Guyanese historian and academic, Walter Rodney, in his book "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," or more recently Dr. Joy DeGruy in her prominent "Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome" (PTSS) theory, demonstrated how unresolved trauma from slavery and subsequent oppression have shaped behaviors and mental health patterns in Africans at home and in the diaspora across generations. In clinical terms, the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome theory suggests that the legacy of slavery, including the belief in inherent inferiority, continues to affect individuals and communities, contributing to various adaptive survival behaviors and mental health challenges. Erica Wilkins, PhD, associate professor and program director of couple and family therapy, Drexel University, explored the ways in which the residuals of slavery affect African American individuals, couples, and the clinical implications of these residuals for therapists. Read more about her research and clinical work below.

https://www.jefferson.edu/news/2023/02/what-is-the-residual-impact-of-slavery-on-african-american-mental-health.html

Attending the launch of a recent networking event hosted by Caribbean Tech Collective in London, UK, and hearing out Millennials discussing code-switching and how to adapt to the UK's work life was insightful. The three panel guests, namely Thornton Paul, Google Senior Account Executive, Evelkah Powell, Caribbean Corporate Babe and Cohesia Connect Founder, and Cheyenne Polius, Astrophysicist, Fin Tech Data Analyst and LUNAA Journeys founder, all stated that Black professionals had to hone the skill of standing for themselves whilst playing the corporate game to thrive.

Thornton Paul on the left, Evelkah Powell holding the mic and Cheyenne Polius on the right.

This process can become an actual self and collective emancipation. Today's generations of Black professionals are rewriting the rules. They understand that living to work is neither a game changer, nor sustainable. On the contrary, it just maintains the status quo. The framework is not designed for the masses. Only a few are designed to succeed when the main pursuit is capitalistic gain.

However, Black professionals today are talking about mental health, life and work balance, mission ... and that is so important. They take us back to our humanity and what is noble about mankind. The ability to create true wealth for the preservation and betterment of generations to come. I was particularly impressed by a statement made by Cheyenne Polius as she described her process of emancipation. "Moving into being a founder, an entrepreneur, that pivot is more to do with thriving and building a life that I love, doing the things that I love and the things that I've known I wanted to do for a while [...] and that journey is kind of how you get out of the corporate rat race, how you get out the 9 to 5 doing the same thing, trying to climb the corporate ladder [...] pulling myself out of that life and moving into building a life fulfilling my purpose and mission."

To reach an aspirational place means that as a community, we are no longer surviving but we are actively shaping today and tomorrow. We dare to dream and live, not just survive. By thinking for ourselves and taking ownership of our lives and future, we are emancipating!

Hopefully, in the future, Millennials playing smart won't translate as the sole pursuit of financial gain but money will be reassigned its true purpose. May money infer true value and facilitate access to life-sustaining commodities, services, and initiatives for the betterment of humanity!