Working While Black: The Black Person's Guide to Success in the White Workplace

by Michelle T. Johnson, Julianne Malveaux (Foreword by)

Overview

This guide offers practical suggestions for black Americans to develop mental awareness, a psychological game plan, and an increased level of business savvy in order to negotiate the minefield of the white work world. Included are commonsense scenarios and real-life solutions that will help every black American evaluate his or her options—from getting hired to getting fired, from adjusting one's attitude to suing an employer. Tips are offered on how African Americans can fit their styles, mindsets, and history into the workplace, and insight is provided into how best to deal with situations, problems, and issues unique to being black in a white working world. This new edition has been updated to account for changes in social networking, the Obama effect, the economic downturn, and recent court decisions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781569763469
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	01/01/2011
Edition description:	Second Edition, Second edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	8.68(w) x 11.34(h) x 0.58(d)

About the Author

Michelle T. Johnson is a former employment attorney, public speaker, diversity consultant, and mediator. She is the author of Black Out and the “Dear Diversity Diva” column in the Kansas City Star. She has worked as a journalist for the Austin American-Statesman, the Louisville Courier-Journal, and the Philadelphia Daily News.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Disclaimer xi

Foreword Julianne Malveaux xiii

Preface xix

Introduction xxiii

1 The 15 Percent Difference 1

2 Where to Be a Black Employee in White America 19

3 Ain't Too Proud to Beg: How Blacks Get Through the Door in the First Place 41

4 Talking Good and Well 65

5 Hair, Flair, and What You Wear 87

6 What the $%∧& Are You Tweeting? 107

7 Friends, Foes, and Fakers 115

8 Fitting In While Standing Out, Settling In Without Selling Out 139

9 When Attitude Is the Issue 153

10 Law and Order, or What to Do If You Decide to Sue 177

11 Bridge over Troubled Waters 205

12 Feeling Down but Not Out 221

Conclusion 241

Resources 245

Index 253

What People are Saying About This

Kirk P. Perucca

This book provides a powerful insight in the ways that African Americans must continually adjust in the workplace.
—President/CEO, Project Equality, Inc.

Keith H. Williamson

[This] should be required reading for every black person entering the work place.
—President, Pitney Bowes Global Credit Services

Cornel West

This book examines in an insightful way a delicate and difficult issue . . . Don't miss it!
—author, Race Matters

Editorial Reviews

"This book examines in an insightful way a delicate and difficult issue—the triumph and tragedies of black upward mobility. Don't miss it!" —Cornel West, author, Race Matters



"Johnson has plenty of good advice." —Library Journal



"Breaks down work relationships in terms that almost every employed person can relate to." —Jacksonville Free Press



"I believe all employers should read Working While Black so they might learn how to work more effectively with African American employees. This book provides a powerful insight in the ways that African Americans must continually adjust in the workplace. If employers used that knowledge and responded in a meaningful way, the workplace would be much more productive and healthier for all employees.” —Kirk P. Perucca, president and CEO, Project Equality, Inc.



"With a refreshing blend of humor . . . and frankness, Johnson delivers no-nonsense advice." —Minority MBA



“[This] should be required reading for every black person entering the work place.” —Keith H. Williamson, president, Pitney Bowes Global Credit Services

From the Publisher

Breaks down work relationships in terms that almost every employed person can relate to.

Jacksonville Free Press

With a refreshing blend of humor . . . and frankness, Johnson delivers no-nonsense advice.

Minority MBA magazine

"This keep-it-real guide offers practical suggestions."

BooksandWords.com

Thought workplace racism ended with the advent of affirmative action? Think again. Kendra Hamilton, quoting a study in her article "What's in a Name?" (Black Issues in Higher Education), wrote that resumes with "white-sounding" names were 50 percent more likely "to receive a callback" than those with "black-sounding" names. And that's before the interview. All the more need for Johnson's book, which is really a guide to avoiding pitfalls when navigating the differing perceptions and mores of African Americans and whites on the job. Ranging from the seemingly trivial to weightier matters (e.g., attitudes and suing employers), Johnson maintains a straightforward style without being overly prescriptive or superficial. Favorably reviewed in LJ this past January, Working is included in this roundup as a reminder of its continuing relevance. Recommended for public library collections of all sizes. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal