Monday Morning Confessional: I did something this weekend that I am sad to confess I would have NEVER DONE in my former life as an executive at a major global corporation: I got my hair braided. \n\nIt’s summertime and I want to tackle stand up paddle boarding. But as a Black woman before I can accomplish that goal — I have to first deal with my hair. (I fall into the water a lot while learning to balance on the board). \n\nIn case you have been living under a rock, hair is a BIG DEAL for professional Black women. As much as the buzz word “authentic” is tossed about in corporate America, every Black woman I know who is being honest, will tell you just how “authentically” she feels she can wear her hair at work is an ongoing dilemma for her. \n\nBlack hair affords us the opportunity to wear some of the most versatile hairstyles in the world. And yet, we are flummoxed by how our personal choice of style will be received and perceived when we walk through those corporate doors. Whether it will block advancement opportunities or become the topic of whispered conversations behind our backs. Especially the higher up the hierarchy you go. Entry level to mid level associates are more likely to take the risk and wear varying styles. Upper management to executive level women more often than not, don’t risk it. Or maybe that was just my reality? \n\nTwenty-one years ago I wore micro braids. Until a Black male colleague whispered that if I wanted to be taken seriously I might want to let them go. And so I did. And I climbed the corporate ranks at the expense of exercising regularly or going anywhere near water unless I was on vacation and I had at least a day or two to convert my hair back to “work-ready”. Buh-bye personal goals! \n\nUntil this weekend. \n\nWhat freedom I felt having my hair plaited up into two worry-free cornrows so that I could have simple fun this summer. \n\nIt’s just sad that I couldn’t have had this option Working While Black in a corporate environment. \n\n(Oh! And to show gray or not to show gray is a whole other post by itself!)
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