Brief Summary
This video discusses four specific types of racial attacks that Black men may experience in the workplace, highlighting the systemic nature of these issues. It emphasizes that these attacks are rooted in microaggressions but are part of a larger, intentional pattern. The four attacks are: "little broing" (infantilizing a Black man), intellectual property shakedown (stealing their ideas), professional muzzling (silencing their voice), and the glass cliff sacrifice (setting them up to fail). The video suggests using boundaries, asking questions, documenting incidents, and being prepared to take legal action as strategies to combat these attacks.
- Little broing: Infantilizing black men to undermine their authority.
- Intellectual property shakedown: Exploiting black men's innovation and then discarding them.
- Professional muzzling: Suppressing black men's self-expression and assertiveness.
- Glass cliff sacrifice: Overloading black men with tasks to set them up for failure.
Introduction
The video introduces the topic of racial attacks that black men specifically experience in the workplace, distinguishing it from microaggressions by focusing on the systemic aspect of these practices. These attacks are deeply rooted in microaggressions but involve a deliberate agenda.
Little Broing
"Little broing" involves observing a black man's behavior upon entering the workplace to determine if he is a "unic" (easily controlled) or a "rebel." White supremacists in the workplace may try to take the black man under their wing to push him towards becoming a "unic," someone easily controlled and without their own voice. The goal is to infantilize the black man, undermining his position and authority by constantly correcting his mistakes, often publicly, to reduce him to a smaller version of himself. This behavior is a racial attack because white men in similar positions are typically allowed to be eccentric without being treated like children.
Intellectual Property Shakedown
The "intellectual property shakedown" occurs when a black man demonstrates brilliance and innovation by creating something that significantly improves company processes. After the black man completes his creation, the company dismisses him, claims the rights to his work, and prevents him from benefiting from his invention. Sometimes, companies steal ideas from independent black inventors, even if they are not employed by the company, and then claim the inventions as their own.
Professional Muzzling
"Professional muzzling" is when a black man's masculinity is attacked by suppressing his ability to express himself honestly and assertively. This involves silencing, tone policing, and punishing him for being assertive, even in normal interactions. The video provides an example of a white female coworker policing the speaker's tone for a simple comment. The speaker also notes the phenomenon of "office mammies" who are sent to correct and embarrass black men, treating them like children.
Glass Cliff Sacrifice
The "glass cliff sacrifice" involves piling black men with unrealistic tasks and responsibilities, setting them up to fail. The dominant society uses a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" approach, criticizing the black man regardless of his actions. If he fails to complete the impossible workload, he is deemed incompetent. If he works overtime, he is seen as inefficient. The goal is to create a paper trail of perceived failures, leading to his dismissal. Even when the black man sets boundaries and asks for a more manageable workload, he is accused of not being a team player.
Solutions and Conclusion
The video suggests that to combat these racial attacks, black men should implement boundaries, ask questions, observe and document incidents, and prepare for potential legal action. The speaker encourages viewers to share their experiences with these racial attacks in the comments section.
