Shambhala Buddhist Nun, Pema Chödrön, teaches us “the present moment is the perfect teacher.“.

Over the 5 years (2009-2013) my joyful, BRILLIANT mother disappeared into the unrecognizable frame Alzheimer’s Disease left behind, I sought refuge daily in Pema’s teachings. Her wisdom and compassion comforted me on the darkest path I have traveled to date. Life without my Bestie . . . my Mama.

It had been years since I thought about Pema’s teaching. Then early one morning after navigating yet another toxic, anti-Black workplace only to find myself abruptly fired, Pema’s words returned to me. I needed them to manage my devastation, anger and looming fear of what the future held for my family.

And with that, through a nugget of truth—or maybe more a “wake the hell up” slap—shared by LinkedIn Executive Career Coach, April Little, came my present moment: “Flip The Table 4 Equity”.

How Will We Flip The Table On Black Women Workplace Trauma?

By FLIPPIN’ the narrative of our shared traumatic work experiences to actions fueled by resource sharing, information gathering, strategizing, mobilizing and empowering to bring workplace cultures normalizing the trauma of Black Women to a long overdue reckoning.

Think of our collective work as the “Me Too” Movement of toxic workplace accountability, leveraging the communication skills, smart tools and engagement platforms we’ve mastered in our personal and professional lives.

Bring / Build Your Own Table.

Black Women are already in action-mode. We are talking, sharing and curating content on LinkedIn. We are telling our stories visually and galvanizing community on Instagram. We continue to hold space and connect on X (formerly Twitter) and represent on Facebook. MANY of us blog, contribute as thought leaders, host podcasts, facilitate livestreams and author books offering insights on the trauma of Black Women in anti-Black workspaces.

We need to do more than just tell our stories though. The systemic abuse and erasure we’ve sustained across an exhaustive period of time is killing us.

Saving our lives today requires changing our narrative by occupying the channels and platforms we use daily to shine light on toxic workplace culture and to provide Sistas experiencing trauma, options, resources and support as they work to seek legal remedies and to preserve their lives.

Our Gritty Circle: 50+ Podcasts. 50+ Thought Leaders. 500+ Listeners. 50+ Episodes.

The first benchmark Flip The Table 4 Equity (FTT4E) is working to meet. Why? Because our goal is to galvanize Black Women’s voices, own the conversation on change and dominate the social platforms where our voices are easily muted and erased.

To jumpstart our equity experiment I’ve ordered up some GOOD TROUBLE, a new Inequity Disruptor Podcast and invite you to join me for our first meal – EPISODE 1: Equity Work Starts With Courage.

When we’ve finished “breaking bread” at FTT4E on COURAGE, the table “flips” to Queen Conversationalist, Danne Smith Mathis where she’s ramping up to serve EPISODE 2: SISTAHOOD – Who’s In Our “Hood?” via her table, Sistas Lace Up Now!

Are you seeing how we will build a community of Black Women with amplified [and supported] voices demanding equity and change?

We will flip the table by rotating deliberate discussions centering US across MANY “tables”; sharing equity meals and identifying solutions to support our mental, emotional, spiritual and financial RELIEF.

[Sista] Hood Table Manners.

• WE respect each other. our work. our journey. our stories.
• WE take from the table what we need.
• WE bring to the table what we have to offer.
• WE gather for the purpose of creating positive change that lifts our community.
• WE have the expectation “allies” will be active accomplices in this space and outside of it.
• WE are here to support each other. how we can. where we can.
• WE share the lift and the yield. this is a collective. 
• WE all rise.
• WE don’t have all the answers. 
• WE are reminded by Flotus Michelle Obama . . . this work is our effort to #DoSomething.

Thoughts On Inclusion and Belonging.

As we build momentum, we purpose to build community. Black Women have historically suffered trauma in our workplaces, but we are not alone. 

Marginalized and underrepresented folks surviving majority-white work cultures experience race, gender and identity-based workplace trauma along with us.

Abuse impacting Brown Women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and people with disabilities matters deeply to me and my intent as we build, is to form an Equity Circle that is inclusive and provides safe tables and spaces where we ALL belong.

Got Questions? Okay Let’s Go.

Danne and I are here to support.

Got your own table? GREAT. Let’s collaborate and plan for the meal you’ll serve up! Need a table? NO PROBLEM. We got you. We’ll help you build your own.

No one is rushing to save us Sistas.

This is work we must do to save ourselves; for the daughters following in our path and witnessing our example. We know what we as Black Women are capable of achieving. Together we are fully empowered to flip this damn INEQUITY table on its freakin’ head.

BYOT and let’s get our revolution started.

Luckie / Queen Gritty.