I’ve been self-employed most of my adult life but there have been times when I was on somebody’s clock. I don’t think I was in the 80% of black women surveyed by Essence Magazine who felt they had to change their personalities to get along at work but I know damn well I was never part of the 57% who changed their appearance (eg. hair, etc.). Employers had to take my naps–short fro, cornrows, dreadlocks and all–if they wanted my skills and experiences.
What about you? What code-switching do/did you have to do on your J-O-B to stay employed? What do you have to off-the-job to maintain your spirit, your sanity?
Read more on the Essence survey results here.
