Let me start off by saying if you leave me a funky comment (lol), I’m going to assume you just read the title GOT really offended and decided to go OFF on me before I put You On to some things I’ve heard, learned, and experienced as far as working with black women online.
Now before I go any further, let me be clear (as I’m sure you already know this), I am a black women entrepreneur / blogger who works mainly with black women, but what a LOT of black women are telling me is that folks tell them “Don’t Work With Black Women (Period).” Sistas you know this, you’ve heard it, and maybe you believe it …. point being that’s what folks are saying.
The rub or the kicker here is THAT many black women that I work with, myself included feel compelled to work with other black women or women of color in general. While there is a stigma around it and not much money in it (on the surface it seems) we are driven to do it. The fact is that as black women we know that we aren’t as targeted by mainstream media as much as we would like, so many of us with visions of changing the world feel compelled to do our part to put black women in the forefront of the conversation. The only problem here is that we as all know words DON’T pay the bills, so while we are trying to DO PRO-BLACK WOMAN Things online that make us feel like our destinies are being fulfilled we are coming up against the whispers, worries, and the realities surrounding the idea ‘Don’t Work With Black Women (Period)’.
So what is the REAL Problem here and what is my point? I’m about to air out our dirty laundry y’all, so excuse me while I open the windows (because it’s going to get funky lol). With the recession and even a few years before it, we have seen a growing number of black women entrepreneurs (especially online). Many black women entrepreneurs online see the net as a space where we can afford to create our visions in the form of blogs, coaching, books, movies, fashion, etc. BUT many of us are having a hard time getting the job done. Either the large companies don’t see our market as a market that pays (so we can’t get big sponsors and ad contracts like well let’s be real – white bloggers online) OR we aren’t buying black amongst ourselves for an exhausting list of reasons. You’ve heard it before, everybody wants to work with you or be on your website BUT they can’t afford to pay or don’t THINK they need what you’re offering. SO in the end we just have a growing number of black women online with amazing ideas and absolutely no profit generators. A small group of us figure out how to rise above the pack, stick in there for years and keep going while the rest quietly fade away, because no one was really looking at them in the first place.
I had to get that out because that my friends is the truth. We groan about it in our homes, write about it on our blogs, vent about it amongst each other, but that’s how it is which is why folks keep screaming, ‘Don’t Work With Black Women !’ and you know what I do …. (lol) I work with black women. I am determined to work with this group on my terms because I know if I do anything else… if I fake it and focus on white women or just everybody so I’m more main stream, I’ll get frustrated like many of my sista bloggers and feel like I’m selling out. I know if I force it and just pitch to black women with corporate gigs and nice pocket books, I’ll look fake because that isn’t who I am. I know I’ll lose it all if I try to be anything other than who I am because in the end all the posers trying to sell things and be who they aren’t STILL aren’t making money so in the end isn’t it better to be happy by my own standards than try to live up to or fall into everyone else’s?
Yes! I say yes, because it’s working for me. No, I’m not a six figure sister yet and I won’t lie to you and say that I am. No, I am not getting even everyone on board, even with all my buzz. As a matter of fact, I started my SistaSense Circle to focus on working with 10 black sistas who want to learn about this stuff and you know what… of the thousands of women in my circle I only have 5 sistas who are on board, but that’s OK… because I know we’ve got a lot of issues separating us… I know it is not easy even having a circle of thousands of black women to get us to support one another, invest in our businesses, and build up what we are doing because HELL we have had hundreds of years of poverty, slavery, and self-destructive negativity beat us down so much that it’s going to take more than just a few emails from me to convince sistas my circle is where they need to be. BUT guess what…
I work with Black Women (Period)
Because I don’t see it as out of thousands of black women online I just got 5 women in my circle. I see it as out of millions of black women in this world, these 5 women chose me. They believe in me, they are inspired by me, they are excited about what we are going to do together in the next 4 works and that makes me happy because this is what I want to do. And they are exactly the type of people I’ve always wanted to work with.
And what makes this absolutely fabulous is at the end of the day I am still working, and what I do is still working without big names to back me, without big companies to sponsor me, without a 9 to 5 job to balance me, without a friend or family member to finance me I have built something authentic that allows me to work with Black Women on my terms as an established business owner. I’m not free, I’m not cheap, and I’m not over the top expensive I’m just exactly the person I could afford which is why I speak to the women who need me and invest in themselves because they know working with me is a realistic option.
I’ve got no fancy dresses to put on. No glam shots or big house to stand in front of. All I’ve got is my brain, my smile, and my truth. My bills are paid; my car note is cool, my babies looking cute and my families doing fine. I think by those standards alone I am doing exactly what I know so many of my hard working, online black women are striving to do but cannot and for that alone I am truly blessed … truly thankful that God keeps giving me the vision and the strength to just be me. And along the way, if I am helping more black women work through these challenges and get the online world working for them, that means by my standards my destiny has truly been fulfilled.
I’ve been building black websites online for over 10 years now. By some folks standards I haven’t been seen yet, by my standards I know for my people I’m already in their line of vision. As my hubby always tells me, I am a pioneer and I guess he’s right. What I am telling you, Innovators do exactly what they are NOT told to do. So if you are struggling with your authenticity, if you are struggling with your visibility, if you are struggling to make it online and make online work for you listen to yourself, be yourself (period).
Related To This Post:
- The SistaSense Circle
- Black Business Women Online
- My NY Lesson Learned: Keep Fighting Until the End
- Vote For the Elevation of Black Women in New Media
- 10 Things I Want to Say to a Black Woman
- What Black Women Think
This is just the beginning of this conversation y’all… like it or not … share your thoughts -lh
While I understand and agree with a lot of what you said, I commend you for sticking to your authentic self because when it’s all done and said, that’s what matters. You don’t have to pump, push or pull ~ just be you.
It’s never been a huge issue for me (white/black/hispanic/asian/indian, etc.) because I work with people who need my services. I have however noticed that Black Women aren’t recognized for their full potential whether on or offline. I don’t like that because it’s stereotypical of the same ole stuff but at the same time, I don’t give it energy, I look for solutions.
Thanks for sharing what so many feel but will never say. Love your conversations ~ you keep it real 🙂
As with most things (if not everything), it’s all perspective. And I don’t think I need to mention mentality. As a black female entrepreneur, not only do I have black female clients, but I am the client of a few black female entrepreneurs…. When I started my business in 2004, I didn’t even consider my clients ethnic background. As a matter of fact, I didn’t care. I provided a service they needed, they were willing to invest in my service, we signed agreements (contracts) and the rest has been history. I think if people viewed (and treated) their business as a business, they would find it more rewarding (personally and financially). Speaking of financially…I see GREEN women…. Thanks LaShanda for always keeping it 100.
~ I work with Black Women (Period) ~ That’s What’s Up!!!
A true innovator, you are!!
Thx 4 the post!!
I would love to work with black women. I am myself black and I have only seen two black females who are open to talking, but they are not new and make a full time successful business online.
Majority of the females I have approached with doing any work is listening, but no action. Not much I can do about this but move on.
I have said ” I cannot work with black PEOPLE” before. Even though I am black I feel degraded because allot of my peeps, take things on a personal level instead of keeping it professional, like office gossip for example.
I am not a big money earner online,as a beginner.
I never claim to know all either. Just don’t like going into a venture with someone lying, and gossiping and treating “money making” as a joke.
The part that angers me the most is when I see white males who show other white males, how to target Black Men and Women to sell too. They know how to make money from us, and we have little knowledge about them.
Spend time around the other side and learn their techniques lol
I do work online in Affiliate Marketing. African Americans and Black Business are just not on the scene… Would be nice to see more out here though.
This is my own experience and spoke only of my experiences.
Phoebe
I just wanted to add to my comment above.
The Black Professionals are a little aloof and don’t connect with other online entrepreneurs who are black. They seem a little “stuck up” in my opinion. I just see too many other black people looking down on other black people, and gave up trying to network and going where the money is.
There is no way I can lift up myself and help to improve the conditions around me staying down.
I haven’t given up- I just had to keep working on improving me.
this article is amazing, I love it because it’s not just women, it’s Black women, who are so capable. There is a need though, for us to truly embrace ourselves and our peers, we can achieve all of our desires, but we need to be more focused collectively, yes, few of us do support our own, but the reality is few of us.
But thank you you so much for the post and let’s continue to work together, for each other by each other.
I worked with “sistahs” in the corporate world at one place of employment they were black women (black owned bank); I had two black female bosses and it was not a pleasant experience. There was so much cut throat and back bitting that it was not funny. Betrayal everywhere! I know this is not every black woman out there but I have encountered it more times than not. I made every effort to be friendly and out going in working with these women. But these women spoke evil of me and each otherevery chance they got when any of us was not around and I could not for the life of me figure it out! You would think they would try to work together and try to pull each other up , but they were too busy pulling each other down and at this bank one of the two black women I aforementioned was my boss and she stirred up alot of mess. As I pursue the path of being on my own and starting a business, I do not see a real sisterhood of trying to help one another where I live (california) I have associated with women who have their “Clicks” they help each other (the us 4 no more mentality) but are close mouthed to helping anyone else outside their circle. it has been frustrating to say the least. I am not saying I am entitled to anyone’s information or resources, I just find it sad that some of us are just not willing to help each other. When I get good information I share it because when one succeeds, we all succeed, that is the mentality in other cultures and why they have more successful business owners than we do. They may not like one of their own, but they will stick together and help that one succeed if they can because they see their success as a success for the whole community. In the Korean community they business owners have a “kitty” in which they are all required to put money into and that money is used to give loans to new business owners so they don’t have to got through a traditional bank. When that business owner is up and running and making a profit, he or she is expected to repay the loan and start contributing to the fund to help out another person who is starting a business. In the black community I do not see that army of support and we so need it. I read an article that the Small business administration calculated the number of female business owners in 2006 and at that time 85% were white women, 8.7% were Hispanic women, 8.3% were black women. We only consist of 8.3% such a small number. we need to increase our numbers and support one another then the “big corporations” will start listening when we become a force to be reckoned with. When Essence Magazine started in 1970, no one paid attention, but when the magazine became a multi million dollar business, THEN the big corporations like TIME magazine wanted a cut. Same with BET (though I cannot stand the programing) and other black owned businesses. I will talk about the “elephant” in the room most people especially white business people do not want to talk about “Institutionalized racism” The continued indoctrination of black inferiority also cripples our success. For example, black are turned down 3 times the rate of whites with the same credit history and financial backround for business loans and home loans. Our neighborhoods are saturated with “Payday Loan” branches; another weapon to keep black people impoverished because of the ignorance at how money works and the majority of people who use those places are BLACK WOMEN!! We need to band together and help each other not feel threatened by each others success when it comes but celebrate it.
I learned a long time ago when you have had some success, it is not enough to just sit back and enjoy it, You’ve got to reach back and pull someone else up too.- First Lady Michelle Obama
I see that I am coming in on this thread a while late, but I do feel this comment, hence me replying. I have been on all sides of the fence it seems like and I have heard the saying “Don’t work with Black Women”. I see that you have been burned and it does happen, it is almost the mentality that many carry in every relationship, be it business, personal, family, etc. It is necessary to keep pushing forward and to help change our thought processes, only then will we see things differently
sorry for the type-os (lol)
I need this confirmation. It’s not always easy being an innovator in your field; blazing a trail. Thanks for this post.
I started reading this article last week some time but needed to read it in it’s entirety before I comment. I wanted to truly listen and identify rather than compare, it far more rewarding. I’m not a business owner nor evision myself becoming one, Just for Today, tomorrow is not promised. I am however a black woman who has lived and learned alot thus far on this subject. It’s hits home on many levels and it pains me that in this 21st century this issue still keeps us in bondage. I’ve worked most of my years for employers where there were mostly women in the office and I gotta say the black women were always the most challenging to get to know at first. But I’ve also shared some challenges with white women in the work place so it’s beyond race in my experience. Since the topic is focusing on us as a people I don’t want to deviate or to repeat what already has been read and/or said.
I will end by saying I too commend you for opening up the dialogue and truly hope more will contribute because we need to share more. I love your work and have admired it since I came across What Black Women Think and have been following ever since. It’s not only the authenticity you bring to the forefront, it’s the transparency I love, that’s key. When one can expose themselves exclusively, good, bad, indifferent, etc. that takes courage and is also powerful. Being true to ourselves starts and ends with self and that radiates self confidence, self assuredness and self love.
If we as people, women, black… can become vulnerable enough to remove our fears and allow the true self to be known that’s a start. You have a certain air and light that attracts others to you or away from you ( those who you’d robably be better off without, lol)? My experience has proven time and time again that being who I am and not apologizing for it works to my benefit. We all have flaws and shortcomings and we sometime fail because of them. It is my opinion that when walk by faith and not by sight we grow ourselve and then our business. It’s not about what others say or do to us that can hinder our sucess, it’s how we respond.
Keep up the good work.
Sharon
I am truly impressed with your spirit, your knowledge, and your understanding. You are truly, truly inspirational. I started my résumé service in 2006 under another name. I did well. Of course, women of color have more issues that stop us from being whole. Past debts, abandonment, relationships, and racism to name a few. We underprice way under our competitors to “help our people”, and our people do not support back. Nearly everthing is wanted for nothing. A majority of our problems is no way around it, money. I restarted my services in an economy that is totally different from back then. Learning how to balance all these things, including adding content to sites and business decisions and you’re are still able to take of family for this you are an inspiration. I do believe that it is up to our generation of business women to break the stereotype of black women not getting along, and allowing society to make us taboo. For this inspiration, Mrs. Henry I am thankful. You keep me thinking about my business, while admiring and utilizing your business; being careful, not to copy Mrs. Henry. Although, I have always had individual, personal character, You teach me to individualize my services and to find my niche in business.
Wow Girl You preached it. Black women we need to unite. Support each other stand together not stand alone.
Right on sista! You are certainly telling it like it is. It is a shame that people don’t know good value when they see it. Thanks Lashanda for all you do!
Okay, I am late on this post, like a year plus. I have been trying to break into working online and marketing my skills. I have little capital since I had been laid off from my job and where I am located, everyone is looking for something for nothing. I do research, proposal writings, etc. I started out doing these things for those close to me and I have thought to venture out, but have been a little skeptical. People don’t want to pay you for what you are worth and I have a family to take care of. I am a single mom trying to make my mark and help in the process while being able to provide for my family. It gets frustrating, but I am still looking for opportunities, as my budget will allow. I use to mentor, since I do possess a degree in counseling and want to do more with that, but I am at a lost. Thanks for the post