The Gift My Ancestors Gave Me
R ecently, I was told that my “ confidence was intimidating .” This is why that’s a problem—it’s coded language and it’s loaded with racial bias. Truth is, I have faced this issue for as long as I can remember merely because I am who I am. Yes, a confident Black woman—and that should not scare you. But if it does, I will not apologize, lower my countenance, look away from you, mute my tone, or slouch down to lower the straightness of my spine to make you feel comfortable or superior. But I do however, wish you well in your endeavors to find someone less confident and intimidating. M any years ago a VP I supported, shared with my manager that she felt she had to walk on “ eggshells ” working with me. My manager, completely taken aback, replied, “ That contradicts everything I know, and have been told about her .” So, my manager suggested a one-on-one between us. I was pregnant at the time, so I sat atop a desk because there were no chairs in the vacant office. The office was directly ac...