The black male has no alliances in the workplace. Keep things professional and go home on time.

We never had allies to begin with

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.

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 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.

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.

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 just keep to myself at work, I have learned a lot from going to school.

After 30 years in corporate America you nailed it 100%. I had to send this to my son since he’s just starting out.

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

Keep silent and observe body language!

You left out all of the black women that want to sleep with you at your job but turn vengeful when they feel rejected.

Accurate. I’m in a war zone every day.

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.

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.

We hardly have any allies anywhere.

It's all true!! I've been through everything mentioned in this video!!! Nothings changed over the years!!!

BRILLIANT 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 so sad some of our sistas are the worst in the corporate offices and brothas the same!!!!

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.

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.

Boy do I know this is true. I’m currently unemployed now as a result.

Some folks with the same complexion as yours will hate on you the most. I've mentioned this before..

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 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.

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.

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

Friends are like diamonds, they are expensive, rare and a lot of fakes. This is how you know you are of the Most High.

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 haven’t even watch the whole video but I would extend what you say to black men related to going to college.

Bro you 100 percent spot on with this one this relates to me all the way!!

who takes someone out on lunch to tell them they aren't a "right fit".

Excellent Commentary!!! No Friends, No Allies.

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

Thank you

We are Enemy Number One period!!💯

This isn't only limited to heterosexual Black Men...this pertains to ALL Black Men!

Right on time brotha!🎯

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.

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?

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.

Crazy Im a trained engineer at an engineering firm driving a truck and working the warehouse

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.

Very True...been there before, and sabotaged a few times.

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

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💯💯💯

The James Earl Jones of counter-American-dysfunction of KZfaq!

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 just found your channel and bruv... I'm going to look into buying one of your books to support your work. I've heard nothing but facts

Great video Brotha!I'm digging the Voltron figure!

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.

Well said Shawn James.

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.

Everything said in this video is so on point! We both bw or bm don't have allies. Do your job and keep to yourself.💯

Absolutely true.

I just wanna go to work without all the extra bs and do my job. I hate I can’t go a day without some kind of peace

I agree. Just look at CNN. Don Lemon is still there, but TJ Holmes isn't anymore. Any takers on why this is? 😑 BK

Shawn- Good Video my Brother.

Your experience is my total life.

This is true

This is so true

This is real talk tho ☝🏾

Dropping science...

Thank you for a good video!

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.

This guy is incredibly intelligent

Thank u brother

ALMIGHTY OMNIPRESENT OMNIPOTENT ALL-KNOWING ALL-SEEING FATHER GAWWD ALLY.

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..

Great Video!!

Amazing video!

Yeah i started this job at a convenience store tryna just mind my business and do my job.

💯

OKAY!

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.

they talk about "women and shoes", lets add the most cliche rap albums and artist. no competion there lol EVERYONE CAN DO IT!

Imagine being affirmative action trash

Hi Shawn, how much does a viewer request cost?

Not one ally

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.

This is insane rhetoric!

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 .

My nigga, to be antisocial is not the perfect behaviour to make friends,..

Unfortunately, you are dead on. We have to stay in corporate America if we can’t start our own. “Office Space” that’s me.

The work place simp😂😂😂😂😂