Workplace Politics

Am I the only minority (and/or woman) working in Corporate America in 2012 and STILL fears speaking up for what is right because of retaliation?  There are so many ridiculously inappropriate situations that should be addressed because change is definitely needed!  Sometimes as much as I am angered by the politics in Corporate America (and as outspoken as I can be) I am silent.  It burns me up on the inside but I make the decision NOT to speak on certain situations in fear of what reporting may bring.  Sometimes I feel like my reactions to situations will be pushed aside because “I am a woman”, “I am over-reacting out of emotion” or because I will be labeled as the “angry black woman”.  Since the recession – I’ve heard many people say “you better be lucky you have a job”!  So instead many of us chose to sensor ourselves, put a filter on the truth and play along with the wrong just to make things continue to seem “right”!  The older I get – I really do not like this.  I talk to myself (YES MYSELF), God and my friends and I try to reaffirm that I am not trying to seem ungrateful.  I just don’t quite understand when it was acceptable to be treated in such an inappropriate manor.  WE KNOW that if the tables were ever turned we could not act in that same fashion and still have this job that we should be "oh so grateful" for.  Change is needed!    I am not selfishly looking to change things that only pertain to me.  I am also looking for change to circumstances that should not be existent to anyone – period.  I have never been so self-consumed that I am only moved when situations have a direct effect on me – we are all somehow affected by it all.  Nothing we do has an effect on just US.  The question is…where do we begin?

I choose not to go into detail about any situation in particular but this topic was definitely on my mind today so I decided to blog about it.  Unfortunately, I am sure many of you can relate.  Care to share your thoughts…??