Was 'Inventing Anna' a crash-course in white privilege?
POV: You’re watching ‘Inventing Anna’ as a person of colour who’s ALWAYS questioned when you’re in spaces that ‘you don’t belong in’ 🙃🙃🙃 Even when you have all the credentials, you still get suspicious looks/treatment
Even though Netflix’s #InventingAnna is supposed to focus on the fraud/deception — many of us couldn’t help but wince at how impossible these scenarios would be for people in underrepresented groups.
It’s a powerful example of the different realities we live even when in the same location. What do you think? Join us in the comments
Even in times of war, racism is still a thing.
Unfortunately, even in times of war and national unrest, we're seeing people of colour — specifically African and Black people in Ukraine being denied access to the same rescue resources as others. We've been disheartened to see various testimonies from people in Ukraine being deprioritised in rescue missions. It's another heart-wrenching reminder that even in the midst of crisis, underlying currents of racism exist.
...and it's playing out all over the media. News outlets in the UK, US and the rest of Europe are expressing sadness for the fact that 'blonde, blue eyed' people are being killed; and expressing shock that war is taking place in Europe and not some third world country.
Words like these create a hierarchy of inherently deserves safety and peace.
Words like these are rooted in and perpetuate biases that we're working hard to erase at Hustle Crew.
Words like these travel from the TV screen and shape perceptions around who worthy and capable in the workplace, at home and in wider society.
As we advocate for peace, let's not forget the urgent need for equality too. Let's be bold to correct and call out media narratives that reinforce racial divides.
Worried about taking a risk? Here's how to overcome 'loss aversion'
Have you ever struggled with perfectionism, being comfortable asking for help or dwelling too heavily on past mistakes? You're not alone, especially when it comes to womxn in the workplace.
While brains are hardwired to protect us from harm, success still requires a bit of risk-taking. Here's how to manage 'loss aversion' and reconfigure your mind to try again even if at first, you don't succeed.
Meet the Tech Exec who inspired Insecure(!)
In 2010 Leslie Pitterson, a black female tech exec, wrote an article titled “Where is the Black Liz Lemon?” that touched on the lack of complex black female characters in media. Days later, she got a note from a woman named Issa, thanking her and saying the article was the inspiration she needed to start a project she had been putting off.
A few months later, Issa sent Leslie a link to Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl, the YouTube series that would be the launchpad for HBO’s Insecure🚀
Just like the underrepresentation of black women Leslie observed in the media, she saw the same over the years in established tech spaces👀 Leslie calls for more active work on inclusion and integration for black women, especially in leadership roles, in her Fast Company article - we've rounded up her points for you below:
Black women need to be seen for their humanity and not just as data points and symbols!
Companies must address the wage gap through institutional remediation
Companies must adopt inclusive leave policies for black women who are non-traditional care takers
Read more here
Who is inspiring your community to build a better future?
Applications for the 2022 UK Acumen Fellowship opened last week. Over the coming months, they are on a quest to find, connect and empower a new cohort of Fellows who are redefining success in the United Kingdom. Know someone who fits the bill? Nominate them here.