Episode 9 - The rise in the 'Pet to Threat' for Black Women

There is a worrying trend that appears to be on the rise in conjunction with the seeming attack on EDI. We have seen that Harvard University's first Black president had resigned following a firestorm of criticism including backlash for how she has handled antisemitism on campus and accusations of plagiarism in her academic work. Dr. Claudine Gay’s experience is not unlike that of other prominent Black women leaders; there’s a disturbing trend where Black women are promoted and elevated into leadership positions and despite how qualified they are, they experience hyper-scrutiny once they take on the position. The attack isn’t new. Vice President Kamala Harris has been attacked as a “DEI hire.” Right-wing culture warrior podcaster Jordan Peterson called Biden White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “some random diversity hire chick.” We also discuss the “Pet to Threat” which explain racist behaviours by leaders in organisations that adversely affects the career trajectory experiences of Black women in the workplace. So why are people so threatened by DEI? And why would a prominent, politically active, ultra-wealthy financier use their considerable platform to take specific aim at accomplished Black women? A special mention to Prof Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey, who was the vice president of student affairs, took her own life on 08/01/24 in Illinois. She wrote a dissertation titled “My Sister, Myself: The Identification of Sociocultural Factors that Affect the Advancement of African-American Women into Senior-Level Administrative Positions.”