The Other Black Girl dredges up all our fears about working corporate while Black
The Other Black Girl is a Mystery Thriller following Nella Rogers, an eager editorial assistant at an esteemed publishing house and the only Black woman on staff. Until she meets Hazel, a new assistant with a mysterious past and glowing presentation.
At first, you’re so excited for Nella to meet Hazel.
Within the first few minutes of the show, you can see how isolated of an experience Nella has in the workplace. From the microaggressions to the forced mentions of solidarity, Nella can’t escape being viewed as the “Black employee”. You start to think she overcompensates in an effort to prove herself otherwise.
I like to refer to this show as a Social Thriller because Nella’s experience, and what came after Hazel’s presence, is a representation of the themes I talk about consistently with my Black Millennial clients working in corporate spaces. This is Jordan Peele presents Insecure and I’m on the edge of my seat by the end of every episode…
Here are just a couple of the themes the show touches on:
The Isolation Nature of Tokenism in the workplace
What is Tokenism? Tokenism in the workplace is the act of including individuals from underrepresented groups merely to appear diverse. This is often obvious when you find that you are the only person who looks like you in the workplace. It can be hard to believe that out of all the people who apply to jobs every day, the likelihood that you are the only Black or BIPOC person in an office space is small and can cause a lot of suspicion over why you’re there in the first place. While well-intentioned at times, tokenism often makes individuals feel isolated, placed under a microscope, and held to a higher standard than others. This can often lead to feelings of stress, anxiety, and imposter syndrome like you weren’t actually chosen for your talents, or needing to prove your worth to people who assume you were solely hired for your identity.
Furthermore, the pressure to represent an entire demographic can be overwhelming.
The biggest friction you see Nella have at work is when she stands up against the release of a racist book. Because all the problematic features of the Black character in the book are ignored by other staff, Nella finds herself pressured to be the social justice warrior, checking the esteemed writer’s privilege at the detriment of her own job security. This is what causes Hazel’s response to be so disheartening and we automatically lose trust in her. She left Nella out in the wind to fend for herself, even when she just agreed with Nella. This dynamic happens often in workplaces with people of color. But in real life, coworkers don’t always mend those relationships, they are often placed in competition with each other.
Expectation to Assimilate *spoiler alert*
By the second leg of the season, you learn that Hazel has been pushing some kind of mind control via a hair cream she puts on her (and other women’s) scalp. This allows her to adopt certain values that align with the expectations of white American culture and the white gaze. She masters the art of code-switching, knowing when to speak, and when not to, even when it means throwing Nella under the bus.
As you see the other women impacted, tend to have long hair, soft makeup, and dress more conservatively.
It brings me back to so many of the pressures I had in my 20s about how to dress for work and how much my sense of personal style was challenged and associated with my success in the world. Were all those judgments wrong? Not necessarily. Time has shown that issues of racism will not be solved by how easy on the eyes I am to people in power. However, we have all been in a position where we know if we dress a certain way, we will be treated a certain way.
This often comes up in the therapy room where clients will describe themselves as a “digestible Black person”, someone who is often in predominantly white spaces because of how comfortable white folks feel around them. They don’t trigger cues of fear because they dress and act in ways that don’t cause friction. This has caused an overwhelming sense of guilt and confusion.
Having a strong sense of identity is so important to your self-esteem and ability to move through the world with your head held high.
So, what happens when you have generations of Black women being told that they have to be a ‘model minority” and the only way they’re going to succeed in their careers is to conform to ways that align with the systems in power? What room do they have to actualize their value aside from the gaze of others who otherwise don’t see them as equals?
You watch Nella straddle that line through the season with Hazel pulling her towards this end and her unapologetically confident friend, Malaika, pulling her towards the other.
Begin Working with a Black Female Therapist in New York, NY
Do some of these thoughts resonate with you? You’re not alone and speaking to a therapist about your experience can be a great first step to feeling grounded in your career again. Approaches like group therapy can also help you figure out how to navigate the world better through the power of community and meeting with other people of color who get it. I would be honored to support you from my New York, NY-based practice. You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps:
Contact me to schedule a 15-minute phone call to see if we could be a good fit
Meet with me, a skilled therapist for your first session
Start feeling more grounded in your career!
OTHER SERVICES OFFERED AT RESTORITY SPACE
At Restority Space, I offer a variety of services in support of your mental well-being. I offer the care women may need when it comes to their mental health online in both New York and New Jersey. This is why I offer Individual Therapy to help women cope with their anxiety, depression, unhealthy relationships, and any major life transitions. I also provide services for those struggling with a breakup. I’m also happy to provide Group Therapy to help women find a sense of belonging and for more support. My group services include a Therapy Group For New Mothers and a Therapy Group For Black Women. To learn more check out my blog and other resources!