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| Author Jacquie Abrams |
In Hush Money: How One Woman Proved Systemic Racism in her Workplace and Kept her Job, Colorado-based authors Deborah Harris, Jacquie Abrams and Delilah Harris wrote a book that validates the experiences of Black, Brown and other women of color in corporate spaces. In so doing, they also shows a tried and tested path to self-redemption and career survival. The story of Ebony’s career ascent in an educational institution may be fictional, but inspired by true events. Accounts of everyday racism as well as blatant discrimination by managers and colleagues may be all-too-familiar for Black professionals who are striving to persist in organizations that are designed for the dominant culture.
Author Delilah Harris
Hush Money is an engaging read. Ebony is a likable colleague, but she is subjected to different treatment by her managers and direct reports. She keeps fighting on, despite insurmountable odds and soul-draining, ghastly incidences of racial bias. Going up against powerful corporate players can be intimidating and demotivating, but Ebony has the support of her family, a Mother who offers sage advice at every turn. Another important source of strength is her Christian faith. With lots of prayer buoyed by the belief in the cause of equity, Ebony pushed through to ensure that people are held accountable for retaliatory and racist actions that violate company policies.
That any professional should need a support system to deal with the trauma of systemic and interpersonal racism should be a wake-up call to anyone who impacts another person's career path: either as a manager or colleague. Ebony’s struggle for justice and dignity in the workplace is a story that is relatable to Black, Brown, indigenous and immigrant people of color who dared to speak up and challenge the status quo. Anyone working in human resources, diversity and inclusion, or as managers of people should read this book. Instead of minimizing the impact of racist incidences in the workplace, managers should make more effort to understand the emotional and mental pain behind allegations of race-based harassment, discrimination and retaliation. It's an inspiring tale of triumph for those in the midst of similar battles for their professional reputations, self-respect and career integrity.
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