The historical and current conditions that eliminate Black and Brown females from the workforce

There is a “Hidden Figure” amongst you, yet have you seen them or even considered the lack of dignity, respect, and well-being they experience in the workplace every day?

Across the United States diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are being dismantled. Meanwhile, employment challenges persist for Black and Brown females across the nation. Despite the representation of females like Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris rising to the highest ranks in our nation, we still see a disproportionate share of Black females treated unfairly in the workplace. More than 50% of those in the workplace report that companies should be doing more to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion. Still, as a nation, policy and individual practice diminish meaningful progress despite the historical significance of people of color in the workplace – especially Black and Brown women.

Jeanes Supervisors, a now extinct group, were instrumental during desegregation efforts of the Jim Crow south. These dynamic Black women were critical to achieving progress in the Civil Rights era. Jeanes Supervisors were hired to accomplish the task of ensuring that children of recently-freed slaves remained “submissive and obedient.” However, the Jeanes Supervisors created opportunity and access for Black students, accomplishing unexpected outcomes due to their commitment to remove injustices.

In today’s workplace, Black and Brown women are often central to ingenuity and creativity. When success or progress is achieved, however, they are not given the proper recognition for their contributions, dismissed in conversations of increased compensation, or replaced by those with lower qualifications. Much like the Jeanes Supervisors of the past, Black females today endure hostile working environments and are not often believed unless white peers make similar complaints.

A 2023 report conducted by Indeed suggests that over 40% of Black females are considering leaving their roles. Challenges have always existed for women in the workplace; however, when race (especially Black or Brown) is accounted for, additional nuances are experienced. Likewise, in a 2023 Women in the Workplace Report, more women are obtaining more executive level positions; however, women of color are persistently underrepresented. Specifically, despite education or qualifications Black and Brown women are often overlooked or not considered for certain roles. Additionally, should women of color rise to executive level positions, they often experience lack of belonging, disrespect from those less qualified, seen as incompetent, and in some cases demoted when exercising the power within their respective roles.

The growing mental health challenges for women of color in the workplace are alarming and are due to bias, discrimination, and other stressors. Their psychological safety and well-being is often jeopardized when there are unsubstantiated complaints made about not being a team player,  threats to terminate employment without concrete evidence or examples, and even performance evaluations which do not accurately detail the individual’s contributions.

According to a research study conducted by Dr. Ashleigh Shleby Rossette, the plight and suffering of Black women in the workplace is “invisible.”

Take, for example, Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey, who wrote a dissertation titled, “My Sister, Myself: The Identification of Sociocultural Factors that Affect the Advancement of African-American Women into Senior-Level Administrative Positions.” After her employment was terminated, Candia-Bailey died by suicide in January 2024 at the young age of 49. An independent investigator found “workplace stress,” “strained relationships,” and “systemic issues at our University that many are rightly calling to be addressed.”

Overcoming mental health challenges, stereotypes, discrimination, microaggressions, and biases in the workplace is difficult for Black and Brown women. Despite initial praise for their work, in many cases things can change quickly leading to new processes created to limit their authority, being demoted, being replaced by others less qualified, and being assigned to other roles without just cause.

In today’s work environment, Black women often work in environments where they must temper their responses and appear extra friendly so as not to be viewed as angry. Additionally, Black females must consider how to ask or limit asking probing questions. Alternatively, different races or genders are praised for asking questions or making difficult decisions. Despite getting results and achieving the responsibilities of their assigned roles, Black females are expected to smile more and talk less so others do not feel uncomfortable.

Regardless of how many Black and Brown women you talk to or survey, about 20% or more of us report similar experiences during our careers. The research shows that in the workplace, Black and Brown women experience:

• Unfair and harsh criticism or punishment, evaluations;
• Increased isolation;
• Racial microaggressions;
• Requirements to demonstrate more competence than their peers;
• Lack of safety and well-being;
• Increased mental-health challenges;
• Inaccurate perceptions; and
• Increased disrespect from peers or subordinates

Despite Equal Employment Opportunity protections and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (now under attack), we often wonder, as Black females leading in a variety of spaces, what can be done when the very protections that are meant to promote our safety and well-being are used against those of us who need it most. As more of our colleagues come forward and tell their experiences in the workplace, we can no longer be silent.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that our lives begin to end when we become silent on things that matter.

Black and Brown women in the workplace matter.

If America is truly the “land of the free and the home of the brave,” we must exercise bravery and show up for the thousands of Black and Brown women who are dying physically, mentally, and emotionally from workplaces that contribute to their demise.

Will you have the courage to stand up or change practices within work environments that do not value the very diversity we claim to appreciate?

There is never a time to repeal diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts; however, now more than ever we need to reignite the spirit of Ida B. Wells and form a movement to reform workplaces to eliminate current and historical injustices. If we do not, Black and Brown females in the workplace will vanish — which will jeopardize the nation’s success and economic stability.

We ask you to examine current policy and practices, as well as take action to protect and advocate for the Hidden Figures leading within workplaces each and every day.