Being the only black guy in a corporate office is a paranoing position. The snide, slick remarks. The underhanded compliments. And you cant retaliate in any way, or you will be viewed as "aggressive". Through my years in corporate, ive come to the realization that only three types of black dudes can find any sense of true "belonging" or comfort in corporate environments: 1. The Jester/slight dumbass: if you are Mr. Funny guy, you are a utility to the non-blacks....you are used for humor. You can be the black clown of the office. What a prideful position. Or, if youre a black man and kinda slow mentally, you can find some comfort in your position as one of the token blacks. You will get empathy points. Your slight lack of intelligence reinforces the pre-conceived notions the non-blacks have of black people, which is that black people arent as sharp, intelligent, and eloquent as non-blacks. So the non-blacks like keeping this type of black guy around, because it fuels thier superiority complex. 2. The Reverse Oreo: if you are one of these black guys that grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and had mostly white friends all your life, you can find some level of peace and comfort in corporate america. Dont get it twisted.....you are still the black guy. But if you sound white, dress white, listen to rock and country music, have a white social circle etc...... you'll probably be only. Not definitely, but probably. 3. The Big Black guy: If youre a black guy in corporate America but physically menacing and/or very tall, you will get respect from the non-blacks just based on thier fear of you. They may have all types of bad thoughts about you, but theyll never show it out of fear. If your a black man, and intelligent, and culturally black, and not a giant, and outspoken on any level........you will probably have a hard time. There are exceptions to this rule, but they are few and far between.

The salary bump thing is crazy. Reminds me of a time my white female counterpart in the company walked into my office crying. She closes the door and is in tears. I'm confused as hell so I all her what's going on. She says, she got a raise but knows she doesn't deserve it. She sees that I'm working hard doing more than 3 people's jobs and it's not right. At the end of the year they gave me a $5k raise, which, if you know taxes is nothing. I tripled the company's revenue in one deal and somehow still ended up on a PIP. No wonder Black small business ownership is on the rise.

The long claps in that like we first landed on the moon 🤣

Meanwhile blacks in Europe: “you American blacks even have career paths?!?”

This is only a problem because black folks don’t own our own shit. You own your own shit this doesn’t happen. Real simple. Making a video like this is fucking stupid if you aren’t going to take action!

literally my first day at work staring at myself in the employee restroom - fake it till you make it

The SECRET study STEM. Stay out of marketing and sales.

The White actor didn't even have to rehearse his lines😮

Ive been flipping tables like Jesus at the Temple since I was put in a children's home in 1975 at age 9. Im not going to stop now. Bump all that noise. Protip: use Ai to construct all your corporate written communications, resumes, cover letters.

We seek the safety of a paycheck over our own self-respect.

I was waiting for the Facade to break. Bravo on this skit. Explains our experience in corporate perfectly. Could be on top of our game all we want.....someone else undeserving will get the raise just for showing up.

This is me.

Rmemeber in the Butler movie. We have to wear TWO faces and make sho they is comfortable and aint threatened. Smfh.

Of courses it’s a short film. Because black men aren’t hired in corporate America and any black men you see in corporate America, are just meeting a diversity quota. This cycle will not end until Boomers and millennials are forced out of the labor force by way of age and cognitive decline. In 80-100 years we will MAYBE see black men and women in positions of power, but it’s a strong maybe considering we are statistically declining in college graduates.

That's not how we act. I am very blunt and straightforward. I show my worth, and let it be known there are other companies. Handle your finances well and know your stuff all the way to the millions. Don't kiss anybody's ass.

Wow... Powerful, eye-opening and most insightful. Thank-you so much! For this could not have come at a better time. 👍🏽

Why deal with the headache I rather work in the fields than be in the big house

It is sad that every productive black man in corporate America has the exact same story; being let go or quitting for out working the whites.

Chronic violent victim hood, bastardization syndrome of a smashed culture as my diagnosis

I retired from a Fortune 50 corporation in 2018, a couple of years before this video was released (it was a second career for me...I had already retired from an Air Force career). We had built up a substantial and effective Black Mafia in the corporation that guided black employees from the mailroom (literally) to the Executive Suite. That had been built even before I got there by some of the earliest black people hired in the late 60s and early 70s. It had benefitted me...I was hired because my mother-in-law went to church with the mother of one of the vice-presidents. He had a job created just for me. That's how the Black Mafia worked. But I discovered by the end of my career there, that younger blacks were not interested in being part of the Black Mafia. For some reason, black people watching out for black people didn't seem to have been part of their nurturing. So, I saw the effective Black Mafia falling apart even before I retired...because young black people didn't seem to think they needed it.

Damn, I thought dude was gonna break his teeth.

This is damn near a religious experience coming to find this space and all the comments validating EVERYTHING I’ve experienced for 22 years. Sadly, I’ve spent too much time gaslit by family, friends and colleagues who either couldn’t relate or, had no direct experience and couldn’t offer any helpful advice on how to navigate CorpAm. I learned to be strong eventually and trust my first instinct for people and situations. That’s been the best protection though I’m STUNNED this isn’t a well publicized dialogue in our community. Now, I tell every Black college grad or professional entering these spaces who will listen what to anticipate and watchout for.

What month was this? I hope it's warmer in May.

OMG I love this guide! I forgot his name but he is the best!

Sad but true

Finding another job isn’t always the answer, because these patterns are ingrained in most companies

That's why I started my own biz. I remember how it was. Nope not for me.....

The "smile" brought tears to my eyes. That cut so deep.

Your thoughts are on point! Your advice on point! The facts you stated are truth. But nothing has changed since I left corporate forty years ago and it won’t…start your own business/firm

"It's not what you're called, but what you answer to that tells the world how you expect to be treated." -SL Which psychological, neurological, or physiological systems require "being Black" in order for them to function as nature intended? In other words, what part of your body is actually "Black?" For the sake of accuracy, please....DO NOT refer to skin tone.

This should be titled..."Being treated like you are "Black" in corporate spaces."

Newsflash brother it aint no secret *EVERYBODY KNOWS*

im a white latino, I wouldn't be able to keep up the charade, damn seems like full time acting gig putting up with thoses assholes

You don’t have to sell out to work in Corporate America. Be yourself have some damn dignity, integrity and self respect.

May I connect with you? First I would like to applaud you Brotha for your content. Secondly I would like your permission to use this video while giving proper credit. And lastly I would love to share my initiative with you. No pitch no sales just talk to share my calling and what my life work will be. May I have a moment of your time?

Must we strategic is every way

This is so beautiful!!! 🥰🥰🥰

Imagine being affirmative action trash

I've worked in tech in Corporate America for years. Starting out this was my dream job, but my lived experience has truly been disheartening at times. The same problems with bigotry and racial bias in American society are amplified because of the direct competition for resources. Sadly, this video is a true representation of the black experience in corporate America.

This man is so lucky, look at this girl, stylish, gorgeus, a whole woman....and now is just for you. Bless the Lord!

After a few years of being black in corporate America, I wish this wasn't true.

This spoke to every molecule in my being. Thank you for bringing to life the hurt that dies within us everyday. The ending was powerful. It brought me to tears because it's painfully true. The mask we as black men are forced to wear to survive the onslaught of indignities, slights and micro aggressions is awful. I felt seen here. Thank u. Much love to all my brothers.

I hope they’re still married

A sad reality....

WHERE CAN I BOOK THIS? PLEAE PROVIDE LINK

I love a man with a great imagination 👏👏👏 Best wishes and congratulations to you both

Thank you for this short life experience brother, as it is , its already hard being black let alone being given a fair chance to show what you can posiblby do with your skills and capabilites.

Wow!! Great work on exposing the experience of working in Corporate America. Great work explanation!!! Spot on 🎯🎯🎯

I came to the sad conclusion a few weeks ago that, it is a lose lose situation for many blacks. I had been in denial my entire career. Sad day.