Guidebook pt. 3
5) Tokenization
I was fortunate to obtain a bachelors degree. Along with other advantages I’ve had, it has given me access to spaces for work where I was often the only woman, only person of color, only young person, only whatever in the room.
Yay, I actually got into a room. However, there comes extra duties.
I have to be ready for photos. Taking them, being invited into photos I really shouldn’t be in, and awkward candids. You may see that photo of me shared on the organization's social media.
I can say I’m a lousy note taker, but as the only woman in the room I’ll still be the one to take notes. At the same time, a male colleague might say he’s a lousy note taker and then actually dodge responsibility.
I am expected to CARE a lot more about, like, everything in general. The extra emotional labor is not compensated either.
As a token, you might be asked to provide your whole community’s network, report on current events, opinions, or history at any time. Even harder is dispelling stereotypes while also fighting colorblindness. Like, literally WTF?
Being the token will be isolating.
I once attended a fair housing meeting conducted and attended by only white people (besides me). At my first convention I was more comfortable "networking" with facilities staff who were people of color than "networking" with other convention attendees.
On the flip side, playing into tokenization may be advantageous for a single person or organization when breaking into a network. They will like experiencing how rare and exotic you are and feel good when they include you in something.
They will take credit for your work as the people who invited you into the room, but take no responsibility to learn your skillset.
Getting into a room while you are alone, but are in a position that can influence some change, calling out and lessening oppression some way, it might be even help spur change. But sometimes you will be invited and sometimes you will not. Especially when the change you will try to make actually means something, the harder it will be to be in that room. Sometimes you will used as a shield to provide the "token" perspective and say the things your superiors are uncomfortable saying, even if it puts you in a vulnerable position.
There will be folks who will also deem you whitewashed because of your white collar job. I’ll almost feel the pressure to demote myself in this situation, but that’s not helpful or truthful. I just find it easier to not talk about jobs. We as human beings aren’t purely defined by our work anyway. We have life, we have joy, and we are not defined which ever role we play to get that bag.
I don’t judge people just because they are a token in the workplace. Especially when they are truly trailblazing. While understanding that they stepped on our backs to get there. However, if you play the token and then do not use your position uplift your community, you are a 💩 and are doing harm to the rest of us.
6) Dealing with your traumas triggers at work
This is hard. If you have the resources, please seek help for addressing your struggles. Sometimes this can pass with time. Sometimes an event can send you reeling for hours.
At work, you are usually expected to keep calm, be unaffected. Again, very isolating.
The shortest answer I would give is to seek happiness.
I was getting triggered at work when working with residents facing eviction or dealing with homelessness. It was sometimes emotionally overwhelming for me. I would psychologically take more personal responsibility for their situation than what is fair.
But like other social justice minded people, I also can’t help that the same traumas fueling these triggers also fuel my passion for change. It equips me with the eyes to see what they see, which not everyone does.
But trauma triggers at work – it’s not unusual. There are a lot of occupations that deal with fucking sad, fucked up shit. Nurses in hospices literally help people die more comfortably for a living. You may work with people who will have their traumas triggered as well. You must exercise practices that avoid these triggers, promote healing, and have patience while your community works their their traumas.
Seek balance. Self care. Cope in a healthy way and make time for it. Evaluate the addictive quality of negative emotions. I found meditation very helpful. Especially meditating for a short 4-5 minutes in the middle of day or before stressful meetings.
And self care can include making others aware of your situation. It can also include removing yourself from triggering situations and seeking other avenues. Do what you can. If you are triggered everyday you might want to leave the space you are in. I feel you, you can't just take a bath every time some racist or fucked up shit happens. You will still be yourself with out revisiting those traumas. But if you leave, you cannot transform these spaces.
Note on Trauma Informed Policy Making - I found that there is a lack of empathy in policy makers that do not have experience working with low-income communities of color. Lots of people in the community have some sort of apathy when it comes to politics, but in communities of color, there is disfranchisement. Our communities hold trauma related to government related violence or harm. There needs to more understanding of the importance of TRUST and EMPOWERMENT. People who do not understand this will continue to disregard this stroke these triggers for our communities. Go the extra mile for our disfranchised communities, know that it's needed.
7) Staying Safe
Don’t stay in a work situation unless you have at least one person who you work with that you really trust. Monitor people who pay excessive attention to you. Maintain a support network who are aware of this and can help you evade dangerous situations if need be.
I had a stalker. My cowokers looked out for me and would give me a heads up if he was around my work and if so, walk with me where I needed to go. If he would call and one of them answered the phone, they would make sure I didn’t have to talk with him and wouldn’t tell me if he called. My boss allowed me to slip away from a event that my stalker attended, probably looking to run into me. I also carry pepper spray with me.
If you ever are harassed, threatened, or violated in some way, and you need help, activate this support network.
8) Leveling up
Do YOU, but keep aware of your surroundings. If you have attained power, develop your navigation and leave maps for your people along the way. Don’t do anything that you would not personally like to do and have associated with your reputation. Keep your expectations high. Don’t promote people that can’t hang with equity. Blaze your path. Don’t take any bullshit.
