The Definitely Earned It Conundrum and Mediocre White Men Fatigue

Awesomely Luvvie — September 11, 2024

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Last night’s presidential debate felt personal for a lot of us, even outside the political policies we needed to care about.

The fact that Kamala Harris has to take Donald Trump seriously is just further proof that we live in an unserious world.

The look of every woman who is sick of mediocre white men getting propped up

A powerhouse Black and South Asian woman like her (someone who had to be three times as good, qualified, and composed) is being forced to share political space with a man with the emotional intelligence of a drunk donkey. A man who has consistently proven that his views are scum of Earth level of terrible.

THAT is who she’s vying for a job against. Someone who is arguably the most qualified person to ever run for office, is in a CLOSE race with someone who has been found guilty of 34 felonies, and his life is a testament of white mediocrity winning. Meanwhile, she’s being labeled as a DEI Presidential candidate.

But isn’t that the story of so many of us? Doesn’t that show up in every arena, every industry, every corporate workplace?

It definitely shows up for me. I’ve written 4 NYT bestselling books, I’m a renowned speaker (my TED talk is in the top 1% of all time, with over 9 million views), and someone who speaks on company culture and innovation globally. Yet, my agents still get lowballed way too often when people want to hire me. Why? Because they say “Well our DEI budget is what it is.”

I’m a thought leader. A veteran branding strategist. A bestselling book marketing coach. I help companies and individuals innovate, lead with courage, and disrupt the status quo for the greater good. But I still have to fight for the pay and recognition I deserve because the world props up mediocre white men who can’t hold a candle to the resourcefulness, innovation, and grit of powerhouse Black women like myself. I will step on any stage and walk away with a standing ovation. Meanwhile, I know my white male peers (some who don’t even have my credentials) are getting their fees with minimal pushback, if any.

The DEI of it all is an umbrella being used for any of us who are working and happen to be Black. I’ve had my books placed in the “anti-racism” section of bookstores, simply because I’m Black.

Unless DEI stands for “Definitely Earned It” the attachment of the label to all of us speaks of the tunnel vision of whiteness is real.

And that’s why we must continue to be Troublemakers. We have to shake tables because the world won’t give us what we’re due if we sit back and play nice. They’ll keep passing over us, keep devaluing our work, our voices, our contributions.

Kamala Harris got on that debate stage, more prepared, more composed and more ready than Cheeto Satan could ever be in his whole privileged, spoiled life. Yet, SHE’S the one being accused of being a token and she still has to work herself tirelessly to win this office on November 5. And her opponent can’t even spell “troglodyte.”

It’s the ASHYNESS that also takes me CLEAN OUT.

This world is truly unserious. And we will not be quiet about it. MAKING GOOD TROUBLE (in the words of the late, great Congressman John Lewis) in a world that is deeply unjust is not a nice to have. Our lives depend on it.

In the meantime, I’ll be over here roasting TF outta Cheeto Satan as I do my work and fight like hell to get Kamala Harris in to the office of the President of the United States. And anyone supporting Cheeto Satan is frankly an enemy of progress who lacks integrity, backbone and sense. Argue with your mama’s stepcousin with lice, not me. 😑