The Invisible Black Woman

Apparently, I’m a bit longwinded by LinkedIn standards. I tried and failed to share the below as an LI post because it went way over the character limit. So instead of finagling, trimming, or posting part of it as a comment, I’m sticking to the rivers and the lakes that I’m used to and posting it here.

So I got up this morning to discover that two sentences I posted yesterday on LinkedIn resonated with more people than I ever expected or imagined. If you’re new to this here corner of the interwebs, you may not know that #BlueNotes are musings that pop in my head on any given day and are very much tied to what I have experienced, especially at this last corporate job. I should also say that if you’re not familiar with them at all, you can find them on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram. I started sharing them a little while back as my way of therapizing and paying it forward, just like many phenomenal women on this platform have done for me, whether they know it or not. With this last one, it’s clear I struck a chord, which got me thinking. I have a lot of thoughts on how this took off like wildfire, but I’m going to distill it down to 7 things I’d like to share.

Thing 1: Use your platform to amplify others

Before joining LinkedIn less than 3 months ago, I was living my best life on a somewhat obscure blog and on Facebook. I told myself I should be on LinkedIn, but I always found a reason to kick the can down the road. Then the universe took matters into its own hands and shoved me into this space rather unceremoniously and before I believed I was ready. And the rest, as they say, is history. My goal on LinkedIn was simple: to amplify the work of other Black women. To bring visibility to their work and their message. To share content that encourages, uplifts, and from time to time (translation: pretty much daily), lights a much-needed fire that inspires a fellow Black woman to choose their peace, sanity, and themselves over their job. I will also share relatable content that is relevant and timely for Black women—lest someone add a comment with a screenshot of times I’ve posted someone other than a Black woman there.

I’m not here to measure or analyze algorithms or to do what’s considered appropriate or prudent in terms of how often you’re supposed to post on LinkedIn. I’m also not here evaluating or examining what others are doing so I can strike gold or go viral. Going viral is just icing from the perspective that the broader what I post goes, the more Black women I can reach and impact. It’s important for me to say that because that will always be my mission and key demographic (it’s literally in my name). I write and share content I’m led to share in the moment and say a silent prayer it reaches the person it’s meant to reach.

You know what the cool thing is about using your platform to amplify other people? Someone will ultimately return the favor. And from time to time, that someone will have an even bigger platform than you. That’s just what happened yesterday. Lisa Hurley, founder of The Great Exhale and absolutely someone you should have on your LinkedIn feed if you don’t already—for a million-and-one reasons, least of all for #FootwerkFriday (iykyk)—she reposted my #BlueNote. Her repost led to a ripple effect that reached way more folks than I could have ever done on my own. Also, let the record show I’m still blown away that little old me is even on her radar, but that’s neither here nor there.

The point is that amplification breeds amplification. Taking the time to shout out the work of someone else doesn’t take away from anything you’re doing. Like I’ve said before and will continue to say until the end of time, “there’s enough food for all of us to eat” (heard it first on LovelyTi). Sharing someone else on your page costs you nothing, and for the person you’re reposting, it could mean everything.

Thing 2 drops tomorrow.

Until then, I wish you nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, which are no less fictitious than the phenomenally perfect specimen you are.