Trials, Tribulations, & Transcendence Redux (Working While Black)

Hello {{ first name | friends}},

One of my favourite things to do is to chop it up with my sister Lisa. We founded and co-hosted The Introvert Sisters podcast, and every conversation between us feels like an extension of that. So I was happy to join Lisa on her Space to Exhale podcast, to dive deep into the issues that come up when working while Black. In the episode, I share how and why I became vocal about racism, discuss the importance of legacy, and highlight ways of getting revolutionary rest. Here are a few excerpts:

"I didn’t learn the term microaggressions till decades after I’d already experienced my first one. Microaggressions don’t just happen at work. Black people who live in countries where they are in the minority experience them every day in every sphere of their lives. And just so you know, post-colonial societies where Black people are in the majority aren’t exempt from microaggressions either...

Most of my experiences of racial microaggressions happened in the UK where I lived and worked for 15 years, but they’re identical to the experiences of my Black relatives and friends who work in the US. At first, I was simply perplexed by what I considered stupid questions. But it turned out those questions and comments were all subtle ways of letting me know I didn’t belong...

There were a couple of statements I heard over and over again during my years working in England, such as, 'You’re so articulate; you speak such good English.' The tone is what separates a compliment from a microaggression. If there’s surprise, then there’s the underlying assumption that Black people aren’t articulate or that we come from places where English isn’t the first language. Learn some history, people."

“The gaslighting really will make you doubt yourself. Hearing stories—while sad and frustrating—makes people feel less like it’s all in their head. That’s one of the reasons that I write, am an activist, and do what I do. People are surprised to learn that I’m an introvert. I’m out here writing, talking, advocating, making noise and being loud about injustices, because I’ve lived it. I know what it’s like to feel gaslit and to wonder, ‘Is it just me?’ You realise as you talk to people, it isn’t just you—it's not an individual experience, it's global. My newsletter aims to help people who share my identity feel seen and others facing oppression feel seen, but also to raise awareness among those who might be contributing without even knowing it, and those willing to do better but don’t know where to start.”

"Part of my responsibility, I think, is to raise these issues to those who might not be able to speak about them and raise awareness of them for those who are not in a position to advocate for themselves among the people that they're going to have to be working with. So, my newsletter really aims to both help people who share my identity feel seen, and other people facing oppression feel seen, but also to raise awareness among those who might be contributing to that oppression without even knowing it — and those who are willing to do better but don't know where to start...

The interesting thing for me is those experiences are in the past for me, but they're still very present for people now. There are other experiences that I've discovered in virtual spaces, which means the same shenanigans are still going on... I feel like there’s a tax that we pay at every turn. The trials and tribulations are real, right? ... We are tired of racism, tired, tired of it. And it’s important for us to see our experiences reflected in others who share our identity—that is part of the work."

“You get to a certain time of life and you start thinking, 'Okay, what am I meant to do with all these things that I have learned, all the gifts that I have?' 'What am I putting back into the world?' 'What is my legacy with a small L?' It’s not so much about ego, but about putting something back into your society, into your community. I realised—there were a number of things that happened to make me realise this—that I was already setting an example for people that I didn't even know. People were paying attention, and I had no clue, right? This was something that needed to be talked about because a lot of people—those of us who know what the experience is—didn't have a lot of people validating that experience. And those who don't know what the experience is didn't have a lot of insight from people that they trusted talking about what those experiences were…

It was a gradual process; I started with writing, something I was already comfortable with. The writing of the newsletter led to the book. The newsletter and the book led to opportunities—podcasts, events, more vocal advocacy. It gained momentum.”

How do these excerpts land with you? I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can catch the full episode on YouTube.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

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I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2025. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).