And don’t ever make a mistake and do what you say you’re going to do before it’s due. Not all BP you see around you may not be for you. It’s best to stay to yourself. If you’re not clear on a direct order, ask. Never assume. If you screw up it’s like treason for a bm. Don’t go to HR for anything or to report an issue. Find another job. Don’t tell folks all your business especially what you’re buying (like a house, car) Only talk to woman at work only if its needed about work-related stuff. Don’t ever drive outside those boundaries. And talk them in an open visible environment with other people around, never in a secluded place. Save all emails and chat conversations and know how to quickly recall them. Don’t compare yourself with other cultures when it comes to title and pay. And don’t compete with them. You are on a different world. The only thing you have as a BM or BP in a “other culture corporate environment “ is trust with them. If you screw up on a project or task it’s best to start looking for another job. In small talk keep it short and concise. Let them do all the talking These are some of my survival tips with over 15years in a corporate environment as a bm.
If an order is not clear, it's best to figure out because if you ask a question then you are deemed incompetent. It's never ok for a BM to ask for assistance.
Where I'm from, in texas, black people and Mexicans are basically looked at the same. We always band together in my city. The blacks and the Mexicans. But for the most part everywhere else I think you're right
My survival rules as a BM or BW in a corporate environment are: Don’t ever make a mistake and do what you say you’re going to do before it’s due. Not all BP you see around you may not be for you. In my experience we are more likely to throw each other under the bus then “them other folks”. It’s best to stay to yourself. You can acknowledge if they say Hi passing in a hallway, but keep it moving. Again you’re there to do a job and get paid. Your not there to build a clubhouse. If you’re not clear on a direct order, ask. Never assume. If you screw up it’s like treason for a bm or bw. Don’t go to HR for anything or to report an issue. Find another job. Don’t tell folks all your business especially what you’re buying (like a house, car). Keep them in abit of suspense and mystery. You don’t want them to be able to categorize you. Be like a rubics cube - Make it hard for them to figure you out. Spilling all your business to them is like you giving them your full W2 to them. If a manager needs to reduce headcount it puts an even bigger target on you if they know what’s in your pockets, even if you are a top performer. Only talk to woman at work only if its needed about work-related stuff. Don’t ever drive outside those boundaries. Dont complement anything about them or what they are wearing. They will start using you like an emotional pillow. Eventually if they see you with another woman casually talking this will cause envy, friction and a call from HR for harassment even though you didn’t do anything and you will lose your job. And talk them in an open visible environment with other people around, never in a secluded place. Save all emails and chat conversations and know how to quickly recall them. Don’t compare yourself with other cultures when it comes to title, promotions and pay. And don’t compete with them. You are in a different world or playing field. The only thing you have as a BM or BW in a “other culture corporate environment “ is trust with them. If you lose that your done. If you screw up majorly on a project or task it’s best to start looking for another job. If “them other folks” want small talk keep it short and concise. Let them do all the talking. Dont feel guilty joining early on a zoom call and everyone else is muted. You can say Hi and press the mute button again. Dont ever complain in front of other co-workers talking about other co-workers. It will come back to you. Think of work as survival to keep your job. Be cordial and a team player regardless how you feel about the person your interacting with At “team building outings” don’t drink a lot and don’t act a fool. You are technically still on the clock and people don’t forget. So remain professional. Don’t participate in any DEI meetings or activities. The company you work for doesn’t give a flying crap about it. Look at their board of directors or executive leadership. That shows the people who they truly represent. They are just using it as a checkbox to entice more of us to think the company is in our best interests. The only true DEI we can have is if we work for ourselves. These are some of my survival tips with over 15years in a corporate environment as the “only black guy” in tech.
This list is so damn good, Just started in new tech job as the only BM in home office. Well there is one in another department but he didn’t introduce himself to me and had multiple opportunities. So I just keep it pushing.
I'm humble, and laid back, mind my business at work, but I stand up for myself, and people in the workplace don't like that. I have got fired, talked about, lied on, even got called for sexual harassment, but I don't even talk to anyone at work, ai just go and do my job, and go home. Now I drive a truck, to stay away from people.
I was fighting to get to that point. I was 6 days out from transfering to a 200k a year truck drivers job. And my white woman supervisor in the old division i was in had me fired. Her reason stated. Specifically the reason you are let go is: misconduct. Which by very nature is vague. I called bullshit. She wanted the D and I would have been a company hero only 6 months later had I been able to stay. And that threatened her.
As a Black man you must focus on yourself & realize that society is not looking out for you. But wanna complain about the crime rate & us being on the dole. Judgement day is coming for those from the man above for all those who harbor such attitudes towards us.
Every BM and BW needs to see this. My Momma tried to tell me. I learned the hard way because I thought she was “old school” and running on outdated stereotypes. She was right and so are you.
I’m literally in the middle of this right now. I’m a darker skin man and I fear my job is in jeopardy bc I’m not on the official schedule anymore. Even though I’ve worked hard and alway have been on time and even ask for more hour almost everyday. I’m 26 with no degree but I am close to finishing and my professionalism and college experience shows. I work at Costco and I’m in the tire shop it’s kind of this own section so the communication and be a little bold and misogynistic. As someone who understands the co-workers aren’t your friends I haven’t went along with the banter. Unfortunately for me I have now began to be a defensive and quiet bc everyone treats me like I have little to no learning capacity. I am getting better everyday learning the ins and outs of the mechanics and I see some people getting intimidated. Even to the length of telling me how I’d never move up in the company even when I haven’t inquired about doing so. Ever job I have I always have to prove myself to not be a lazy person or nonchalant. I’m intelligent and a quick learner I just think there plotting to fire me bc I have many talents that stem than just more than the tire shop. I’m good on the phone and can critically think to the extent of putting together game plans that will get the job done.
@@tyvaughnthomas5150 I’m sorry you’re going through this. Shawn speaks the truth and his advice will get you far. Stick to your morals. They hate to see it but we serve a higher power and He sees you.
This is real talk. As someone who has been white collar and blue collar, you are on your own. The only folks who have helped me are older black women, and even those are rare.
I am a 54 year old black man I started working at age 16 and I can vouch for everything this man is saying. It may sound outlandish to some but this is absolute facts and Truth he is speaking.
I experienced haters on the job a few times myself; all of them black of course. I remember being passed over for promotion 3 times on two different jobs.
This is so true. I have a masters degree in a specialized field and I have had many periods of my life where I've had job insecurity and unemployment. Where my white colleagues are able to get jobs and employment without a hassle.
A very true angle...Now I understand why past co workers...Hated my guts...All I did was do my job to the fullest...I just subscribed...Looking forward to more intelligent conversation...Tee
Black man….my pigmented brother, I appreciate you sharing this. I am going to do my part in making sure you and any pigmented brother I work with and around knows that they have an ALLY in me. I have always walked this way, but my pigmented brother I need your help also in reciprocating with me…I’m speaking for me as a pigmented sista. Peace. Growth. Strength.
SAY IT AGAIN!!!! In any job you would think blacks would stick together especially when their is other whites. It's like they kiss the white buttocks. It's sickening
I did an internship at an office when I was in college, and I received a lot of shade from the men because I was getting choosing signals from some of the women. From that point on I knew that I would never work in an office environment again. Too many office simps.
@@AddamSolo I'll lie to make u feel better so u can sleep at night: No, it did not happen. I did not leave because some guys were butthurt because some of the females were giving me choosing signals.
Preach It like it is !....Bro. Shawn James. We've been knowing this. Nobody can tell it better! You know what you're talking about!!!! Im tired of intelligent Black people accepting Failure and being at the bottom. Everybody is against him including the Workplace Black Mammy. Thank you!
I was a Federal employee at the Veterans Administration in Dublin ga which is ahick town in mid Ga. I have seen the VA give jobs that require education and skills to white high school dropout white women who have a number of children by Black men. They will give her the job over a skilled and highly educated Black woman
One time I broke the record that a Black female held at the company for getting the most closes with clients on the phone for cust. service, scored one of the highest IQ scores on the company's entry IQ test, with the Indians and Juice loving my performance so much that when I got laid off after getting pulled into the office two months later, the Juice CEO said that Black American women that own stock in his firm voted me out of employment! so he has to let me go or they pull out their stock from his company! 😲 I was such a threat that a svelte, petite White lady escorted me out of the door of the company. W-T-F.
Nothing but truth he should go deeper into people at work seeing you do better. And see you get a new or used nicer vehicle than you had before Also how these people pocket watch and hate.
I’ve saved this video for almost 2 years now. My little bro is 15 now and when he’s 18 I’ll show me this . Thanks man bc I thought it was me feeling this way only
I’m super late in commenting but wanted to chime in to agree. I got into corporate America all bright eyed and bushy-tailed thinking I could make friends and get people to like me but realized way to late that i was all alone. Even the people that were cool with me kept me at a distance around the rest of the team. My approach going back will be to treat everyone as competition and not give in. Thanks for your perspective.
I thought I was crazy all of these years when I endured this on the job. Excellent and well done description of a work environment that are only tolerate of you for a short time. I’ve never understood how you gain employment in an organization and no one speaks to you. The organization is intolerant of your mistakes even when you are learning the organizational culture.
BFA major here 28, I have been looking at more video about increasing my value and to gte more out of my jobs. In these past few years it has been less of finding a job and finding where I feel comfortable. Currently working at a place where I was asked if it was "ok' for other ehticties to use the N word.....also I live in Alabama lol. My expected grad date is spring 2024 and i'm out. - the horror of a place wanting you to sacrifice not only your time and money, but also your dignity is where I draw the line, these jobs want your to wor for pennies, and kiss ass and lick bott just to feel acepted.
The man you are is a person who has the knowledge and the history. Valuable, meaningful, knowledge and the will. This is a big threat they would try to discredit everything that you have achieved to benefit the corporation.This is to make themselves look good after using, applying all your tactics. A while, using your tactics would not benefit the company because of the falsifying evidence.
So true! I live it in FRANCE! Oh my god! They want you to be a mediocre nigga of the hood! I am not like that and they hate that. Black women are not supportive too they hate black men who step up for themselves.
After Goldman Sachs recent announcement, and how black men and women are responding to it and to each other, the topic of this video just gets more relevant.
We have no Allies except ourselves and Ahmen The Most High. I grind hard and know I gotta go at it alone most of the time, but fortunately it always work out for me. But I am ready to jump ship this whole rat race next year and take my business all the way
I Agree Shawn and based on what you said in numerous previous videos, I think you might be might be better off not working for these jobs, and especially entry level jobs with low standards. The work environment of today is an extension of what you experienced in High School with social dysfunction. They (man & women) will look for loop holes to create a profile on by asking direct and indirect person questions like do you have a family/wife & kids? They will talk about their affairs amongst each other to make a person not participating socially awkward...or they may disturb you with childlike behavior and gossip.... and you don’t join in they you become their target.
We've all been there I know I have but when I came into to work not to make friends with untrustworthy people and the unfortunate thing about the workforce is that our own brothers and sisters will cut out throats as to get attention and approval from white folks not realizing that its only a matter of time before they bring the hammer down upon you. Because white folks see our people backstabbing each other and no one respects backstabbers so white folks see that if they do this to their own what will they do to us so its only a matter of time but if our people support black owned business we will grow that's how you do things and thats how respect and dignity will return to the black community here and across the globe.
I dig your videos Shawn. I'm 37, married, father, and military veteran. Im dealing with younger blacks (late 20's and early 30s), who ostracize me daily simply bc we are at different maturity levels. The female of the group is a single mom and likes to instigate trouble, and flirt with all the men-MARRIED men. Dresses with curve hugging jeans etc..we've never gotten along as i always acted as she didnt exist. There are a couple of white guys who co-sign and add to this behavior because they find it entertaining and the only other black dude (who is also married is the local "cool black guy" he wears a lot of Jordans and trendy), hecenables this, so hes viewed as cooler than me, a slacks and hardbottom type. But can you make a vid or give your thoughts on thus?
The “cool black guy” and or stereotypical consumer type, make non-blacks comfortable. They are non-threatening because people have a good grasp on how he moves and what to expect. I had a woman at my last job tell me she was afraid of me because I’m not smiling all the time and that she doesn’t know what I’m thinking. You’re afraid of me because I’m not smiling all the time and because you don’t know what I’m thinking? Interesting to say the least.
Mr. James allow me to digress for a sec...Man were you spot on about the vid you posted about Meghan markle👏🏿💪🏿, you called it and I hope to hear your perspective about it soon sir💯💯💯
This is why you got to get educated, licensed, and certified and use these jobs as a stepping stone to striking out on your own. We become targeted the minute we step out the door..
Shawn- you should do a video related to this matter- Knicks legend Patrick Ewing was treated like a criminal at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks Management Team hates black men. They used them and throw them away.
I tried to be a so called "ally" in the workplace for my black colleagues who were experiencing blatant discrimination and I got thrown under the bus and told that they didn't need a "white savior". Btw, I'm not white. I'm Hispanic with African and indigenous roots, but because there's racism in Hispanic communities, it was automatically assumed that I'm inherently racist. Therefore, when I spoke against the discrimination, I was told that my help wasn't needed. So I shut up, left the company, and they're all still there in danger of losing their jobs. I will never reach out a helping hand again.
I understand your frustration as a mixed guy, partial AA, partial white. The loyalty gene is lacking unfortunately in the African American community. It’s why other groups don’t respect us because in comparison to themselves, we are easy to pick off. I’m a black man who is loyal by way of my Irish ancestry, if that makes sense 😅😅
@andre1987eph I have always embraced the African roots in my ethnicity. I had always been taught about my African and Taino roots from young. I've lived in predominantly Black communities all my life, and most importantly, I descended from a black grandmother. Dark skin like Lupita Nyongo , African American features, you wouldn't have known she was Hispanic unless you heard her speak. I always had strong friendships with black people who I considered family. I never started experiencing racism from black people until after the pandemic. Even those I held close started to change toward me since America's woke wave of race wars.
The black man definitely has allies if a BW is in the same office. WP will triangulate and pit the two against one another with WW favoring BM in the workplace. Their tactics definitely work and it’s crazy to see how they control BP in the workplace.
I would just like to point out that existing workers getting defensive when someone new is trying really hard to perform 100% is literally ubiquitous. Everyone hates the person who comes in and does too much. And no one wants to, or should, give 100% to their job. Of course they're mad! You are screwing up the place for everyone! Everyone is just trying to do their 8hr and get home. Stop making everyone work harder lol. This is a key misunderstanding of office culture that is not color-related. Every office has a culture and level of work ethic that you have to pick up and understand when you are integrating. Failure to do so will absolutely put a target on your back! I would honestly say that this is the NUMBER ONE way to get everyone to dislike you at a new job.
Actually the Black man does have one Allie. Ironically it's the white woman. When there is one in HR I get hired 75 percent of the time. When HR is black maybe 10 percent of the time I got hired.
@@jmmmenelik4784 Well, they don't do it because they like you. They do it because they dislike black women and they know black women hate seeing you there.
If you tell the TRUTH at the company that I work at then you will be fired if you say anything about a black person . Our company doesn't want to touch the race issue with a 10 foot pole . Whatever , just keep your mouth shut , make your money and go home .
