Diversity Is Not A Trending Topic

“Diversity is not a trending topic.” These were the words spoken by Viola Davis backstage at her post award win presser during the SAG awards. It may seem like diversity is the current buzzword but it is something that many industries have been battling for quite some time. Being Black and a millennial in the workforce can come with its share of challenges. For some, we are being judged by the negative stereotype of being millennial and black.

Some things that I wanted to share to my fellow millennials and for those millennials who identify as Black/African American.

1. You do not represent all Black people/African Americans. Do not put this weight on your shoulders. Be the best you that you can be. For non-black millennials, remember that when asking for insight or opinions, that black people are not a monolith and that the information you are going to get is coming from a personal experience. There is by no means an “all Black people” do this scenario. Sounds simple enough not to do, but it happens often.

2. Don’t be afraid to make work friends. Some of us were given the advice that you didn’t go to work to make friends. Work friends are a bit different in the sense that you may not share all your personal business. But you want to have someone that keeps you updated on what’s going on around the job. Someone you can have lunch with a few times out the week. Informal gatherings will keep work stress low. For black millennials, you should have a diverse group of work friends. You may also want to seek out fellow black work friends who will help you navigate your place of employment. See if your job has some type of built in networking group. For non-black millennials, make an effort to get to know some of your other co workers. Learn something new, find a way to connect.

3. Get to know your HR/Employee relations department. HR departments will really help you learn your company culture, do’s and don’ts and offer a space to ask questions that you might not feel comfortable asking co workers or managers. Find out how much money you are really making. You can also find out about any diversity programs or groups that your job may have.

4. Learn when to speak up. Team meetings, performance reviews, long back and forth emails find your way in. Speak up. Showcase your knowledge and let people know you belong there. Also keep track of your contributions. Work to show yourself as an expert in a given area. Often going along with the flow can be a hindrance to your professional development.

There might not be one way to fix diversity issues but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Let’s all make the effort to make our work environment one that not only fosters financial gain by cultural awareness.