Candace Marie's Black In Corporate Initiative Aims To Erase Anti-Blackness In Corporate Spaces
Who knew Nina Simone singing, "To be young, gifted and black. Oh, what a lovely precious dream," would be the anthem for melanin millennials. Watching Candace Marie dominate Fashion Weeks all over the globe and be her pro-black self in luxurious spaces is exactly what our ancestors' dreams are made of. This powerhouse of a woman uses her respected voice in the industry to champion for people of color behind the corporate walls.
The Arkansas native shared, "During my 10+ year career navigating from company to company in the corporate realm, I saw not only a lack of Black colleagues but the systematic racism that was embedded into the guidelines, policies and practices that propelled white individuals towards success and Black individuals towards failure."
Courtesy of Candace Marie
Recently, the social media consultant and professor created Black in Corporate, a much-needed initiative for Black people looking for relief, support, and guidance in their jobs as well as those who are looking to help bridge the gap and be an authentic ally for Black Individuals who are currently working in challenging corporate structures.
xoNecole had the pleasure of speaking with Candace about being a Black woman in corporate, why she started the initiative and how self-care fits into Black in Corporate.
xoNecole: What does being a Black woman in the corporate world mean to you specifically?
Candace Marie: Being a Black woman in corporate is such a beautiful and powerful thing. Black women are the most hard-working, compassionate, clever, and creative beings that I know. Therefore, to be able to be a Black woman fully within a corporate environment, the opportunities should be endless, because whatever we touch grows. Unfortunately, the reality of being a Black woman in corporate oftentimes reflects as being the only one to look like you, [as well as] the feeling of isolation and exhaustion from being overworked and from being underpaid.
"Being a Black woman in corporate is such a beautiful and powerful thing. Black women are the most hard-working, compassionate, clever, and creative beings that I know. Therefore, to be able to be a Black woman fully within a corporate environment, the opportunities should be endless, because whatever we touch grows."
Can you share the moment you decided to start Black in Corporate?
There was a collision of happenings, events and life experiences that ignited something in me to start Black in Corporate. So much was weighing heavily on me. The killing of George Floyd, the ever-feeling of isolation within corporate spaces, seeing how distraught my Black colleagues were, as well as witnessing what was reflected on social was not reflected inside of corporations - I thought to myself if there was ever a time to act, now was the time.
How has your perspective lended itself to the vision of your new venture?
My perspective as a Black woman by far helped frame what Black in Corporate has and is becoming. As a Black woman who has been within a corporate environment for over 10 years, I have dealt with experiences of being the only one that looked like me, not having the appropriate resources for upward trajectory and lacking in connections and mentorship. All of this has guided me to think about what I wish I had on my career path and how I can provide that back to Black individuals in similar situations.
You have always been yourself unapologetically in whatever rooms you take up space in, including corporate rooms. What are some ways you would dare Black women who might fear they aren't 'professional' to do the same in the corporate world?
I must first start by saying that I was not always like this and that I understand the burden that weighs on Black women. It has been a 10-year plus journey. As Black women, we have to go above and beyond and most times that still is not good enough. Even being unapologetically us is taxing and draining. Nevertheless, to this I say we have to rise to the occasion because there will be Black women after us who will have it easier and women after them. I'm optimistic that it won't always be like this and that me wearing my hair natural or a wig won't have to come with an education class as well as over-executing my work.
"As Black women, we have to go above and beyond and most times that still is not good enough. Even being unapologetically us is taxing and draining. Nevertheless, to this I say we have to rise to the occasion because there will be Black women after us who will have it easier and women after them."
Speaking of professionalism, do you think the concept of professionalism is anti-Black, why or why not?
The idea and concept is definitely anti-Black - especially when it comes to Black hair. Black individuals are raised and trained to think that in order to be "professional", not only do our mannerisms need to reflect that of a white individual, but our appearance does as well. When I reflect on my experiences going into interviews, I always wore my hair straight or slicked back because I was told that my natural hair was messy and not professional. We have to change this stigma.
How is self-care and mental health interconnected in Black in Corporate?
The interconnection is vital to the point that it is our survival tool. For years, Black individuals have shown unwavering strength and tenacity within corporations that have failed them repeatedly. Sadly, the mental toll that this system has taken on Black bodies has been astronomical. The effects of systematic racism and racial trauma on Black mental health in the corporate sector is real and cannot be ignored. One thing is certain—Black self-care within corporate spaces is VITAL.
What do you want the world to take away from the current social justice movement when thinking about Black faces in corporate spaces?
I want the corporate sector to take the steps and actions to be an authentic ally for Black Individuals who are currently working in challenging corporate structures. I want them to think about cultivating the current Black staff to grow and thrive. I want the corporate sector to publicly be a white ally by recognizing and calling out microaggressions from fellow coworkers and bringing anti-racism into the workplace every day. Recognizing and acknowledging that Black individuals have been disproportionately penalized in the workplace and that white people had have greater access. At the end of the day, I want them to actively help make existing systems of oppression more equitable by opening up paths of opportunities to Black workers who previously did not have access to them.
For more of Candace, follow her on Instagram @marie_mag_. Also, be sure to follow Black in Corporate on Instagram to keep up with pertinent information and resources.
Featured Image by Candace Marie
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images