DISTINCTION – I’M NOT JUST A WOMAN, IMMA BLACK WOMAN
For leaders of color, the traditional path to authority often comes with a hidden requirement: assimilation. You are told to soften your voice, to mute your cultural identity, and to adopt the mannerisms of the dominant culture to be seen as competent and professional. This is a losing bargain. It trades your authentic power for mere positional authority. True leadership is not about fitting into a mold. It is about
For many professionals of color, the workplace demands a double life. There is the voice you use with family and close friends, full of cultural rhythm and familiar ease. Then there is the voice you switch to at the office. It is often more measured, more formal, and carefully stripped of any regional or cultural inflection that might mark you as “other.” This practice is called code switching. It is
Society often paints a very specific picture of Black women. She is resilient. She is a pillar of strength. She can handle anything life throws at her without breaking. She is the “strong Black woman.” While this archetype comes from a real history of incredible endurance, it has hardened into a prison. It is a myth that denies a fundamental truth: Black women are human. They need space to be
For many Black women, a specific phrase from childhood echoes far into adulthood. It is the command, often from a mother or grandmother, to “fix your face.” This instruction usually comes in a moment of raw emotion. Maybe you are about to cry from hurt or frustration. Maybe your expression is showing anger or deep disappointment. To fix your face means to wipe away the visible evidence of that feeling.
In a world often divided by difference, the story of a true and lasting friendship can feel like a quiet revolution. It is a living proof that connection is stronger than categorization. For MaryJo (Jacqui), author of the powerful memoir DISTINCTION, this proof has a name: Earline. Affectionately nicknamed Wheezie, Earline is more than a friend. She is a sister, a cornerstone, and the embodiment of a bond that has thrived
Imagine a stage carefully set with elegant dinnerware, soft lighting, and small, healthy bites of food you cannot quite name. At this table sit people of considerable wealth and influence. Their goal is noble: to fund programs that help underserved communities. And in this room, there is one person whose presence is both essential and ornamental. She is the only Black woman at the table. She is not there as
The work of a mother is universal. It involves feeding, comforting, teaching, and protecting. For Black mothers, that universal work includes an additional and profound layer of labor. It is the work of arming their children for a world that may see them as a threat before it sees them as a child. This parenting goes beyond teaching manners and encouraging good grades. It involves specific, difficult conversations about survival.
Many workplaces today celebrate diversity. They speak about inclusion and the value of different perspectives. For employees from marginalized backgrounds, this can feel like a door opening. There is an invitation to come inside, to bring their unique voice to the table. Often, this invitation comes with a specific, unspoken role. You are hired or promoted as a symbol of progress. You become the proof that the organization is modern
The most powerful declaration a person can make is the one that comes after a lifetime of being defined by others. For many Black women, that statement is simple, yet seismic. It is: I am not just a woman. I am a Black woman. This phrase, a central refrain in MaryJo (Jacqui) ‘s powerful memoir DISTINCTION, is far more than a description. It is a reclamation. It is the act of
The label arrives like a stamp, canceling out the content of a woman’s words. She is passionate about a meeting. She is direct with feedback. She holds someone accountable. She sets a firm boundary. And for these ordinary acts of leadership, she receives a powerful, silencing diagnosis. She is called an angry Black woman. This stereotype is one of the most effective tools for maintaining systemic bias in professional and
