Being Black was never the problem

the urge to hide our Blackness post DEI

Racism is a funny thing.

In the attempt to solve it, we often embody it.

The mainstream conversation is acutely aware that Black women get less than 1% of all venture capital.

Black owned brands and small businesses are closing left and right. Black founders are also under attack. We’re told “being Black isn’t a brand” or “giving Black women money is so 2020”

Before, I dive into this, here are a few of my credentials: I’m a Black woman, with a background in Sociology, I’m certified in Trauma of Money, I successfully transitioned from corporate tech to entrepreneurship, and I coach Black women founders for a living.

So, this topic is near and dear to my heart and my bank account.

Black founders status of “being Black” was never a brand position, it was just a fact.

It’s a fact that influences the experience that you’ll have as a founder. Everything from Access to funding, expectations on level of readiness, hiring, resources available, political implications are impacted by your race.

We live in a country founded on stolen land and built by chattel slavery. That is how we got here.

Now, this is the plot twist:

Black founders, educators, and randos online making the argument that we shouldn’t say the term “Black owned”.

Instead, we should say…anything else - “B-Beauty” for beauty brands. The “Ascension fund” to grant funding to “anyone” who has struggled (this is real feedback that Wilglory, founder of Anima Iris, has gotten on her journey raising capital).

Their argument is that if being Black is what’s holding us back, let’s just put that to the side and focus on the brand position. The story, the benefits of the product or service, the unique problem we solve. We don’t have to talk about being Black. It’s Barack Obama’s approach to winning the presidency. Every time he got up on that stage…”I’m not here to talk about race, let’s talk about America”.

Now, there’s an oxymoron. America is built on race relations.

What he really meant was, I’m not asking you to be less racist, I’m asking you to vote for me. I’m not here to fight for Black people, I’m here to fight for healthcare, so vote for me.

That’s exactly what happened. We got our healthcare and nothing changed for Black liberation. We had a moment of hope, but not a fundamental change. His goal was fixing the economy and social systems after the devastation of George W Bush. If Black liberation were actually on the table, he wouldn’t have been elected president for 2 terms.

If liberation isn’t on your to-do list…then hiding behind a company is a solid strategy.

However, if you’re interested Black liberation you must name it.

White women were the primary beneficiaries to affirmative action because we didn’t name it.

By refusing to explicitly say the word Black, it’s as if to say we are the problem, not racism itself. When we hide, shrink ourselves, or even trick you into forgetting who we are so we can get ahead, who benefits from that?

Hiding our Blackness also inherently reduces what it is. Our Blackness is not a monolith. It has so much depth, nuance, perseverance, and gravity that can’t be hidden. Our Black identity permeates our mindset, our language, our culture, our habits, our spirituality, the way we love, our dreams, and so much more.

Those aspects of who we are come with us everywhere we go.

Finally, no one knows the value of Black people quite like white people do. It is, in fact, the reason they’re so obsessed with taking what we have for themselves. It’s why they can’t choose between wanting us gone all together or right here under their thumb. It’s why they inherit genetic jealousy, intrigue, and anger not knowing why they feel so strongly about us.

If we don’t own our own narrative, if we don’t claim our Black identity…they absolutely will.

This isn’t just a conversation about money, business, or branding. This is about who gets to own the entity, the story, and the legacy of who we are…

The multitude and gratitude of who we are.

Black owned, may not need to be said, but it’s always seen, understood, and witnessed. Any attempt to hide it is really just an admission that we’re inferior…

I know you don’t believe that.