19. Dr. Claudine Gay’s Resignation, Microaggressions, and the Burden of Being the First Black Woman in a Role

When we heard the news of Dr. Claudine Gay’s resignation from her role as the first Black female president of Harvard University, we knew we had to unpack our feelings and the wounds it opened on the podcast. In our experiences as Black women, we’ve faced microaggressions, assumptions about our qualifications, and a lack of support and allyship from our colleagues. In this bonus episode, we’re covering all of that and so much more. Some key takeaways from this episode include: So many Black women know what it means to be the only double minority in the room. It’s not something to celebrate anymore; we really need to question why there is not significantly more diversity in the workplace, specifically in the highest leadership roles. Black women’s accomplishments have been dismissed because of affirmative action or DE&I, but Black women have earned their spots in their respective roles. Those programs simply get their foot in the door so they have the opportunity to showcase their qualifications. Perfection is a huge weight that Black women carry because of the expectations to be the very best so they can get in the room. They have to be twice as good as their peers just to be seen as comparable to them. Even then, there’s a fear that even one mistake can derail it all. Mothers are the queens of the castle, but let’s be real: it’s not all ball gowns and glass slippers. On this podcast, we’re giving you a peek Behind the Throne at the privilege and responsibility of wearing the crown. Hosted by Helen Hope Kimbrough - a proud wife and mom of two adult sons - and Charlitta Hatch, a proud wife, married to her high school sweetheart, and a proud mom of two little ones. Get ready as we share jewels with each other and you around all things connected to motherhood! Connect with Us!:  Podcast Instagram YouTube Charlitta’s Instagram Helen’s Instagram