I’ve gotten to the point where I find myself unable to clock into my “9-5”. I get physically sick to my stomach having to work this job, this job that has provided me with very little compared to the 7.5+ years I’ve spent working for them. I’m underpaid, underrepresented in the positions of leadership that yield power, and I can’t help but continue to notice the similarities in the way my corporate job operates vs the way our government operates. The more I think, and compare, and get to the root cause of my overall feelings, I just find myself wondering. Is what we know as ‘corporate America’ a separate entity from the U.S. Government or is it all one in the same?
Like I said, been with the company 8 years in March. Was promoted once, 2 years into my career and been stagnant since then. I make $20.44 cents an hour. Cool. What Is not cool is after those 8 years, a promotion, and emails dating back to 2017 requesting a review of my compensation, a new hire makes that same $20 per hour. They have a third of my workload, have zero tenure and make .44 cents less per hour than me. Now apparently, somethings wrong with me because I am uncomfortable clocking in every day knowing all this information. Go figure.
Unfortunately, this story is not original. I’m a statistic. I am a Back woman in America, and I make less than most of my counterparts that do the same job just not as well. I’ve been picked and praised for project after project, constantly utilizing skills I’m not paid for and stepping up to the plate time after time for a year and a half. With every move I’m praying that I would finally see the career movement I know I deserved. I was “Co-chair of the DE&I council” (yes I fell for that shit. Lol), filled in for leadership when short staffed, created presentations to drive performance, I did it all. I was USED. Just like so many of us. But somehow, I am supposed to put on my happy face, clock in, put my best foot forward and sit through your purchased diversity equity and inclusion trainings?!?!
AM I INSANE?
This is the story of so many Black women in America. I know this, they know this, and they still choose to do nothing, and we still wake up, and we go to work everyday putting our best foot forward making the magic that we do and not being properly compensated just because THEY don’t feel like it. I FEEL INSANE! In the same breath because we are in the political hell, we now are forced to listen to the BS scripts on the concern for mental health and participate in lessons on how to be a considerate ally. I’m just trying to understand if this is some sort of trick. They gotta be playing a collective joke right now. Do they want us to snap?
To bring it back to the point. The same oppressive structure I feel from the government I feel at work. The false promises, the “we are in this together” family type narrative that they try and push. But when you look at the facts of the situation it is clear who and what works together against the interest of the majority. The government is supposed to exist to protect the natural rights of the people. Yet our corporations don’t pay their fair share of taxes and are allowed free reign to implement these policies, ridiculous pay scales and union busting tactics that hurt those very natural rights. Not just for Black Americans but all Americans. Right now, in the Senate the “Build Back Better Plan” is being negotiated and you know what likely won’t be included in the final version, taxes on the rich, aka corporations. The same corporations that can’t pay us fair wages or provide us access to TRULY affordable healthcare plans. The seamless moves CEO’s and professionals make from the boardroom to government offices and positions of influence is suspect to say the least. The way bailouts, and financial support are provided so rapidly with the crash back in 2008 and in 2020 with COVID-19. All while the majority of America was supposed to make it on a $1200 check. To me there seems to be more evidence that these people are all on the same team working against a common enemy. The American people.
If I’m not anything else, I am consistent. Just like with voting, or any other thing that seems to be a waste of my time and energy, my time at this job is coming to and end. I’ve known this for a long time and have been hard at work searching for a new career path in hopes of finding something solid that fed my interest and passions. Nothing has worked out yet, but I know it’s on the way. Physically, I can’t push myself allow the disrespect. Its beyond my control and choice at this point and I know for a fact I am not alone at this little career crossroads. It’s hard, especially if you are not in a financial position to simply change jobs. I have to think about healthcare, and possibly being without it for 90 days because I decided to not allow myself to be disrespected. I have to consider the fact that finding another job doesn’t solve the problem. Because I’m a statistic. This isn’t just me, this is happening everywhere, to thousands of women. Who says that my new job would be any different?
I refuse to let fear get in the way of what I know is right. God got me.
Alter & Abolish.
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