The Only Black Guy in the Office

I’m Not Your Poster Child for Workplace Diversity

Why won’t companies quit slapping a Band-Aid on things and make some actual meaningful changes?

The Only Black Guy In the Office
LEVEL
Published in
4 min readAug 18, 2020

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Photos: filadendron/Zero Creatives/Getty Images

Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.

There’s nothing wrong with a little special treatment from time to time. Not having to do chores on your birthday as a kid. Your uncle sneaking you $10 under the table because you’re his favorite nephew. Getting a few extra sauces at the Chick-fil-A counter, no charge. (Sure, everyone gets that, it feels so damn personal!) Those little moments feel good. However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve become privy to a more irksome brand of special treatment. Like getting sought out for “opportunities” to be Thee Token Black Employee for your newly woke White-ass company. And in the words of Chief Keef, that’s that shit I don’t like.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that for the most part, having a job is strictly transactional. You might have a few cases where passion for the work takes precedence, or you find co-workers who might later give your wedding toast, but at the end of the day, The Big Company has one thing in mind: What else can this hire do for me? And for…

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The Only Black Guy In the Office
The Only Black Guy In the Office

Written by The Only Black Guy In the Office

Do you know him? Is it you? The trials and tribulations of a Black man navigating corporate life.

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