THOUGHTLEADER: Appointing Black women to leadership positions is a drop in the ocean of the real work that needs to be done to truly transform organisations, especially in the nonprofit world, writes SboNkosiZA
There I was on my couch, propped up and waiting for the interview to begin. This is life now, job hunting — like many other facets of our lives — has moved online. The interview was my third since I resigned as chief executive of a nonprofit media outlet at the end of January. And, as the usual conventions of job interviews went on, I was dreading the one question that has haunted me since my resignation was announced.
We’re constantly told the civil society and media sectors need to truly transform, but this is mostly a talk shop from executives and boards that are not committed to addressing all the baggage that comes with appointing Black people, specifically Black women, to head organisations. There are fewer conversations about the effects of racism, ageism and gender bias within civil society organisations, especially those in the social justice and donor-funded journalism sector.
There’s a look of relief on the faces of the Black staff, but I’m also aware of the discomfort of my white colleagues. I can feel their heaviness on my shoulders, and I know why. I am a young, Black woman and I will be their boss soon. I’ve seen this before — when white people cannot comprehend a Black person, let alone a Black woman just shy of 30, holding a higher position of power than them. After my appointment, the previous leader stayed on as a consultant, with no consultancy contract.
My leadership was invalidated at every turn. The reluctance to speak openly about race and gender left the organisation in a worse state because everyone — including Black staff — was reporting to a Black woman for the first time, and the board and previous leadership failed to consider what this meant for me and that there would be resistance. The reality is society doesn’t see Black women as a form of authority.
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