THE ONLY BLACK GUY IN THE OFFICE
Why I Skip Pop Culture Discussions With My White Co-Workers
Music and movies are obviously for everyone—but explaining Black entertainment takes all the fun out of it
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
I still remember the moment Solange’s A Seat at the Table dropped in 2016. The project exemplified #BlackAF long before Kenya Barris co-opted the term, a sonic response to turbulence and trauma in Black America that offered uplift, joy, and empathy. The picturesque music videos, spoken interludes by Master P, and lyrics about the importance of self-care all became unifying moments; Black Twitter was lit, and so was I.
After jamming to Beyoncé’s soulful younger sister that entire weekend, I stepped into the office the following Monday with shea butter glazed on my skin and “Don’t Touch My Hair” blasting in my headphones — a force field of Blackness invisible to the untrained eye and impenetrable by the microaggressions of my co-workers. Me and my high-top fade felt untouchable. Until I sat at my desk, ready to get the day started, and felt a tap on my shoulder.
