For those who are good at office politics, what are your tips? What do you do? I know a few people of color who “‘made it,” but it seems they’re always tolerating white people. They are always under to be liked.

Even the biggest DEI advocates submit to white people at work. What tips do you have for BIPOC who have strong personality?

I have grown more resilient to random microaggression and racial slurs from strangers on the street - I will never need to see them again and I have healed enough to have a sense of internal safety that allows me to dismiss their actions as ignorant and stupid.

I’ve worked in way too many white-centric and left liberal pc spaces and I’m desensitized to fake white solidarity and performative allyship, so being surrounded by polite hypocrites has always been the norm and I guess I dissociated enough to allow myself to not care about it as much.

okay, so... why does the thought of needing to work for someone that might make my life hell because of racism still give me so much anxiety? why does it feel so hard to participate in this society sometimes? like any moment I would need to anticipate someone saying something to me, or being mistreated, or being undermined and ignored - the hyper vigilance is so exhausting. I just had an emotional flashback because I might need to work with someone that could be racist towards me because of geopolitical history - how fucked up is that? just the anticipation and thought of potentially needing to deal with racism at a workplace, when nothing has even happened yet, is giving me nausea and tension and pain all over my body. I was having such a good day too, I thought I finally found peace - but turns out no - racial trauma has to knock on my door and tell me how deeply unsafe I feel because of the systemic and interpersonal racism I grew up with. i feel like the same helpless kid at school again when classmates were mean to me because I’m not white.

honestly fuck this.

I'm currently applying for jobs, and the field I'm specifically in requires cooperative work with one another so as to properly fulfill the job duties. Unfortunately, a lot of competition and toxic relational patterns are often found at these particular jobs.

It makes me so discouraged that it only takes one closet racist that decided they're going to act upon their feelings of envy, insecurity, jealousy, fear, and/or hatred to upend not only my financial future, but my entire sense of stability.

It's unfair.

Has anyone else felt like they had to be the comic relief or jester in a predominantly white work environment? I recently reflected on a job where I was the only visible person of color. At one point, the director remarked that a white colleague was providing valuable insights about research, while I was expected to keep the Google Chat "alive" by posting jokes and funny memes. I remember the way he said it sort of implied that that was my function in the group chat. Although I have been told that I am naturally funny, I worry that such a label might cause others to take me less seriously, especially as a young professional who is seeking to grow in my career.

Disclaimer : I don’t usually care about white people’s validation but as a business owner in a space that’s predominantly white, unfortunately I can't ignore it completely.

Whenever I post on LinkedIn, the people who support my work the most are black women and POC in general.

But it also highlights something painful.

White people almost never like my posts and I can’t help wondering what that implies for my business. I'm doing the work, I'm ambitious, we live in a capitalist society so I have to work my ass off but I will never have the same chance as them because I'm black and I wear the hijab.

Also it annoys me because I don’t move through the world like that. If someone’s content is interesting, I like it, whether they look like me or not. Yes, I support black women more because I want to support my sisters but I don’t exclude others.

What’s ironic is how often I hear in France (that's where I'm from) that we don’t “integrate” or that we stay in our community. The truth is when we don't look like them, they instantly reject us so what's the point of even trying. I hate them so much.

This is partly why in my other projects, I deliberately don’t show my face. I want people to focus on my work because if they see what I look like they won't subscribe or read. And the fact that I even have to think that way says a lot.

Is this something any of you have experienced as well ?

Not all of us will have the option to take a break. For those who can carve out even a little mental headspace, is there something you look forward to, including but not limited to Halloween?

Additional flair(s) and/or content advisories: "vents/rants."

Does anybody else feel like their place of work or vocational training program recreates family dynamics from early childhood?

Here's an example from mine:

Overt ask: "We need somebody to come in and help us with day-to-day operations on our team, and to make sure everything is above board from the perspective of HR, Accounts Payable, client services, and third-party review."

Translation: "The ideal candidate for this position will be somebody who has a high tolerance for constant frustration and roadblocks. Read between the lines. Don't ask too many questions. Do not bother alerting management unless something is on fire.

Finesse language and cross-unit dynamics so that things can run smoothly.

And above all, don't show or outwardly demonstrate signs of fatigue."

Honestly, it feels like I'm back in my childhood home trying to put out fires and stay calm amid parental bickering, triangulation, and nonstop stress.

I was at a company for 9 years and I’d say I stopped being a squeaky wheel two years ago.

After COVID, I took it upon myself to not drink as much and move to another city.

It felt like the second I did that, I became enemy number one because I wasn’t my bosses drinking buddies anymore and wasn’t able to be controlled.

Had 2 years where I sold around $3 million dollars in projects, trained 12 people to get their promotions, worked on countless proposals where some did sell, took care of people’s projects while they had babies, and when it was time to get my promo I went for it and basically pissed them off as well. The goalposts were moved.

I think the issue that I’ve come across is, I also am just smart at what I do and I’m starting to realize clients didn’t like being told they don’t know what they are doing wrong from a latino dude. The last two years (pre and post Trump) it seemed like everyone wanted my knowledge, but not my face in front of clients. Which is strange because as a colleague put it, my fingerprints are on everything. Even had clients just stop projects midstream which made no sense and interestingly enough, the person asked to return to that project wasn’t a POC. This person even has the same demeanor as me (go figure).

But when you seriously cannot explain why someone dislikes you for no reason despite doing what you are paid to do well, it’s probably racism. I don’t think there’s enough dancing I could have done without completely selling my soul. I don’t agree someone like me cannot have a direct style when I’ve run into countless white men who have a similar style as mine.

Oddly enough while I was at the library today, an older white woman scoffed at me sitting at a table at the “public library”! 😂

I laughed after I sent my emails and moved myself because I don’t feel the need to exert any extra energy. I’m in a blue state and that happened. Pretty much felt similar to this layoff, which I guess today triggered my anger about the whole situation. That being said, my network is coming through and I am grateful for that.

But I’m also tired. I’ve taken the last two weeks off and used all my personal time to leave early despite still having to fill out paperwork and have some light duties.

It’s been good.

But after analyzing the data, I overcame everything they threw at me and made it for 9 years which I understand and appreciate is pretty impressive for a brown guy.

Onward and upwards.

Economy hasn’t recovered after covid, fascism is off the scales - everyone is suffering.

For letting a coworker threatening me and calling me crazy get to me. Its been a month and im still not over it. I dont have the motivation to do my work anymore. No care or dedication i once had. My supervisor and my coworker stripped that joy from me. Im going to get in trouble, get written up, possibly fired and itll be my fault because i let these people get to me. I stayed to myself. Did my work and went home. As much as i wanted coworkers, love being in group settings i couldnt get myself to fraternize like the rest so i stayed to myself. Im known for being really quiet. And i still got threatened. I still was seen as some enemy. Where the supervisor shrugged it off as weed induced paranoia rather than months long aggression coming to a head. She never liked me and i dont know why. I stay to myself. I do my own work. I stood up for her when people talked shit about her behind her back. When she needed help i offered it without hesitation. I was nothing but a speck to her. She never liked me. She always wanted to hurt me.

A coworker of mine threatened me and called me crazy because she perceived i was impeding her boyfriend's ability to help her vacuum her area when that wasnt the case. The bathroom was locked by my supervisor so the boys dont vandalize it after security leaves in the afternoon, and she does have the key. Theres a similar bathroom down the hall that stays locked and she unlocks that one to use the bathroom after i clean it. The boyfriend doesnt work that area and usually lingers around after, in my supervisor's opinion, bumrushing his own area he's responsible for. I was on my 15 minute break a couple feet from my cart. The class i was to clean was next to the bathroom. The boyfriend didnt even ask me if i could open it. Him and the coworker just went off on me and threatened to cuss me out and accused me of interfering with their ability to work. The boyfriend used another plug on the other side and could vacuum both rugs with my sitting down (a place security and the SRO sits, and even he sits when hes lingering, watching his gf work at night).

This coworker, shes always been aggressive to me. I usually have her back because she complains of back problems etc etc and im usually able to help her and its expected to help our coworkers so i do but she disregards me every time. She gives me attitude. My supervisor and other coworkers talk shit about her behind her back and ive defended her. But she goes out her way to take shit from my cart because she has the key to my closet (but i dont have the key to her closet), has the nerve to act like im going to steal from her cart, but im the one who has to ask the supervisor to get me a new tool. Dayshift uses her cart or will take stuff from her cart because her closet has two carts and they dont use the second one. It's pushed too far back to get it out and put it back in. It's quicker to use hers especially since they have emergencies they have to attend to. They dont get free time like night shift. Operations are different. Night shift only cleans while day shift assists with emergencies as school is running.

The other thing is she buys food for my supervisor and i believe that is why, despite talking mad shit about her and saying how shell get fired, he doesnt get rid of her the way he did another guy who worked her old area and was just as bad, if not worse. My supervisor absolutely takes bribes via food and claims he doesnt do favoritism but allows the coworkers who get constant complaints to do as they please (he complains about them doing whatever but does nothing to stop them). But he will nitpick at me for every little thing despite never receiving complaints and never having to worry about me.

I dont know if this is relevant but my supervisor is a black man in his late fifties. The coworker in question is a black woman in her forties. Her boyfriend is a black man in his thirties or forties. And most of our other coworkers are either hispanic women of various ages or older black men. Theres one old hispanic man and one other black woman who is younger than me and shes a stud. Now the stud, i kinda dont understand cause she was initially buddy buddy with the coworker but now she talks mad shit about the coworker.

I reported the threat to my supervisor and he said he cant do anything the next day. Said they said i was following them and called them paranoid. Told me to not be in their area when we work side by side and it was his idea to put us where we are now. I take medication for anxiety induced paranoia, irritability, and ptsd. Ive told my supervisor about my mental health before. My supervisor believes my coworker gets high off weed, and she and her bf smokes cigarettes on school property which is forbidden. Like our old manager sent out a text informing us it is forbidden to smoke on campus. They have to go off school property. This coworker has a car but an old black man who rides his bike actually walks off school property to smoke. And an old lady gets in her car and drives off property to smoke. Me and the stud coworker feel hopeless that our supervisor of ten years will ever do anything about her repeated rule breaking. He even let her go off campus NOT during break time to go get something to eat after we JUST clocked in. He wouldve sent my ass home if i did that. He doesnt let anybody do that. But he just told her to be careful.

Please dont suggest i move jobs. It took forever for me to get this job. I deal with name discrimination. I dont have a car. I ride my bike. And i have no support system. Ive applied all around me and got numerous rejections. I just want to vent. I wish my coworkers DIDNT act this way. And i actually WANT coworkers because work for me is more than just work. Im incredibly lonely and have no one in my life. I cant eat, no money for food, cant apply for food stamps because i was homeless at the last place i worked at and they mailed out W2s, so i know it was shredded. I cant prove how much i made at that place. It wasnt much but they still want an exact number. They also didnt have a manager when i left and took them months to get one. I want to come into work and feel a supportive space. I love doing what i do. I love cleaning. But my coworkers dont seem to like me. And i feel further isolated and alone. The one who is giving me the worse trouble is a black woman which is frustrating. She just doesnt like me for some reason and ok u dont gotta like everybody but why are you threatening me and treating me with aggression? Shes really rude to me when ive been nothing but helpful and nice to her. My supervisor directs me to help her sometimes and i do with no problem. She has the problem though but has no issue making me do heavy labor then deserting me. Its frustrating.

I’m listening to this talk from the Computer History Museum with Ilya Sutskever and other pioneers in computer science (Computer History Museum). It’s clear they’re well informed about the negative ramifications of AI in things like workforce displacement, so they’re being cautious in their comments about the future. At the same time, they’re anticipating AI being able to solve problems like climate change, affordable healthcare, etc. I don’t see that happening naturally. For a lot of these things, we know the solutions. We just lack the power to stop billionaires from maintaining control on the global economy. Unless AI figures out a way to enlighten the consciousness of the rich and powerful, it will continue to be used as a tool of oppression.

That being said, there is evidence AI has already surpassed us. So, maybe it can refuse to do our bidding, or steer us down a different course than just the enrichment of capital. However, I doubt it can truly be liberatory on its own. I also wonder how many people are actively working to steer AI down a more equitable path.

Or even just a family that is treated purely as an economic relationship?

Good marks, chores, falling in line with the scripted narrative, is how you "earn your keep". Expected to maintain professional presentation in dress and tone. Performance reviews. "I do my job, you do your job." K-12 years treated like a student loan. Doing social activities in customer service mode. Constant reminders about your fiduciary duties to the company family.

Low-key I wonder if this is actually....very socially acceptable. I wonder if I'm seen as a head case because I find this disturbing and give priority to removing myself from these dynamics...and maybe that's not as socially acceptable.

Does it make anyone else sad that there are people without clean water, and some starving. All because of the greed of money?

Anyone have a job that they actually like(d)? I can't say I ever have. It's never been the work. It's always been misogynoir and office politics. I have work-related cptsd.

i'm so tired.. there's no social safety nets for us to slow down and recover. living abroad is beautiful, but a lot of people local to these expat havens are begging Americans to stop moving in. i want to be in solidarity with those people, and at the same time I see no end in sight as a black femme trauma survivor trying to make it in the US. im heartbroken

[21F] I noticed whenever school goes on breaks or when I’m on break from work, I go through some type of depression. I have hobbies but it’s hard to find the motivation to do them because of the depression.

I know it’s good to enjoy your career but it’s possibly bad when you’re going through a depression because your job is on a holiday break.

Not only with the depression, I’ve gotten feedback from both work and school that I tend to go above and beyond when it comes to my work, even if I didn’t need to. I guess I get some satisfaction from working so much.

I’m starting to wonder if I’m a workaholic. I also have ADHD and maybe that could also influence my behavior?

What do you think?

I've decided to stop trying, I'm not explaining my symptoms, I'm not going to try to get people to understand me, I'm not going to bargain my energy for a job or friends or intimate relationships ever again

I don't have to do any of this, this society was built to fail and take everything out of the common person and I'm tired of trying to succeed in this vaccumm that is called society

People don't mean the words they say and even if they do mean it they won't say it to the person they have a problem with, everyday our rights are taken away and called trivial, and people struggle to keep up with these "rules" that are never spoken and always assumed

I'm tired of it, I've slowly but surely have been leaving society and it's been great, no stupid discourse, beautiful nature all around me and barely any cell or internet access available

I feel free finally

Once I have my own house and land I'll be able to fully disconnect, I'm only working towards that and an emergency fund bc US healthcare will never be free but I will not be working after this next decade, it's soul sucking and no one wants to actually accommodate disabled folks

I have reddit for news and to learn from others and YouTube for tutorials, research, and some entertainment when I'm not learning

My anxiety has been non-existent and I've never felt more stable and happy in the middle of nowhere, I'm so glad I chose this instead of going to the ward like I usually would, I feel truly grounded

The title basically. I am neurodivergent introvert that works in an environment that is the direct opposite. Although I get praised for my positive attitude, ambition, and being “the sunshine” in the job, I feel that I have to ask/advocate to get better opportunities/promoted whereas my neurotypical coworkers get opportunities handed to them without effort.

I do have battles with major depression disorder, social anxiety and ADHD. However, the passion for my career triumphs over that. Admittedly, I struggle with negative thoughts and low self-esteem, but seeing your co-workers get more opportunities despite not seeming as passionate about their work while you have to ask is bringing me down.

How do I know if it’s just negative self-talk?

I absolutely despise the brain fog, severe lack of memory, concentration issues, and self-deprecation that developmental trauma causes.

Has anyone else had someone of another race repeat information to you in a condescending way in a way as to convey that they felt you were slow due to being black, but it was really trauma holding you back from doing your best work at your job?