Amber Ivy on LinkedIn: #sayhername #sonyamassey (2024)

This is important to take notice of and change your approach to tears. Tears should not be a way to halt a conversation because the topic is hard & uncomfortable, compose yourself and continue. Do not be a distraction in the room. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to 'feel their feelings' in the moment because of intergenerational trauma. Crying was beaten out of thousands of children in residential schools. I have heard people tell their stories about how they refused to cry anymore in order to take the satisfaction away from their abusers. These kids were 7yrs old when they started to consciously compartmentalize for their own safety. They began to learn how to "mask" to survive.So next time you think the 'lack of a reaction' from a BIPOC is cold and unempathetic? Remember ☝️ that is the reaction we were taught by our ancestors. We are conditioned to respond differently to stress, overwhelm and anger. To me? crying is a privilege. I can't cry in any place and be taken seriously. If I show too much emotion it can be (and will be!) misconstrued as: - poor boundaries- mental health issues- lower capacity and - overall being incapable of the role. Because I am not afforded the privilege and benefit of the doubt that my emotions are valid and that I'm not a liability when I cry. If I cry - something must be wrong with ME and not the topic at hand.#knowyourprivilege#tearstodistract#tearstodetract#whatdoyourtearsmean

Exploring white fragility and discomfort through the lens of cultural consciousness 🧠. My bestselling book, 'White Talking Therapy Can't Think in Black,' delves into these complex issues, offering insights and empowerment. Discover more at https://lnkd.in/eZEcFiKJ 📖. #WhiteFragility #CulturalConsciousness #Empowerment #Inclusivity

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Comparing the Impact: Black Lives Riots vs January 6 RiotsExplore the contrasting narratives surrounding the Black Lives Matter riots and the events that unfolded on January 6. Reflect on the terminology used, the extent of violence, and the aftermath. Discover the facts behind the claims to gain a deeper understanding of these significant events. #RiotComparison #ViolenceAnalysis #BlackLivesMatter #January6Riots #FactCheck #NarrativeAnalysis #ProtestCoverage #ComparativeStudy #SocialJustice #CurrentEvents

White folks, let's talk:In your workplace/community there are probably Black folks. Coworkers, clients, bosses, janitors, your bank teller, whoever they are — when you see them today, PAUSE. Immediately make time and pause, like you would on the shoulder for a hearse and a long line of mourning families behind it.You don't have to say anything.Definitely don't bring up the shooting.It's not like it was a once in a lifetime event. But do pause. How we got here comes from centuries of our parents, and their parents, teaching us not to pause for Black folks.To turn away and focus on our jobs.To "ignore it."To say, "There's nothing I can do about it," allowing our brains to dismiss the cruelty and go back to buying our groceries, or asking for that end-of-month report.To cut ourselves off from feeling empathy for Black people, lest we ourselves feel as constantly devastated, overwhelmed, and exhausted as they do.Our White parents taught us not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Their parents taught them not to feel.Unfeeling people who are "just doing my job" are literally killing your coworkers' families and friends, regularly. So don't "just do your job" today.Pause today. Feel.Don't be afraid to get a therapist and talk about how it feels to feel feelings you've been suppressing for 400 years.This is how you can keep from becoming someone who does harm in your workplace as casually as you do your job. There is no shortcut to pausing.

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What's your dream "I'm officially Anti-racist" outcome?To never be deemed racist again?To lose your Oppressive Muscle Memory in six months?What if I told you that those aren't your real problems? Because it's not. It's just your ego talking.What you really want is to be able to believe Black people when they disclose how people (including you) and systems enact oppression on them.What you really want is to learn how to listen intently without giving your colorblind insight that minimizes Black survivors.What you really want is to FINALLY take full ownership of the impact of your Oppressive Muscle Memory.What you absolutely want is the space to unravel the system that conditioned you to treat Black survivors as less than.I can help you with that. Click the link in bio/comments to learn more.#PracticeLiberation#AntiOppressiveAdvocacy#Cohort5

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Recently, when there would be a big news story about a Black woman’s death by suicide due to bullying or murder by the police, I would try to elevate a dialogue about it. This seemed what the “standard” was, for my role trying to build equity and continue vigilance against creeping anti-Blackness. I was usually met with uncomfortable silence, deflections, and dismissal (literally).What a common and unfortunate perpetuation — at this point, many of us should be used to it. Today, I cannot watch the body cam of Sonya Massey’s murder. Just reading the transcript is enough trauma. My heart tells me that we, Black women, are not seen as humans, by so many. Let that sit with you, my white progressive friends. You may be one of the “good ones,” who obviously see me and women who look like me as human, but we are living in a world where this baseline is not a given. Carrying that realization is renewed trauma every single day. You, who have proximate position to white maleness (which is the seat of the abusive power system) please don’t take the Sonya story, the Pet to Threat recurring tragedy, or any other form of anti-Black woman harm as something to sit in silent comfort around. If you want more support and guidance on what you need to know and how you can start taking some sustainable steps, follow me. I’ll be sharing more. This is an appeal from the heart. If, God please, we have a Black/Brown woman president, each of us will have to act very differently, and challenge ourselves to do all we can to protect and trust Black women. Start today.

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Speak Our Truth is here to provide support and information for survivors,supporters, advocates, family, friends and all affected by sexual assault especially when it involves specific communities like black survivors, as with other survivors Black survivors require sensitivity, belief, and consideration for those affected. It’s important to approach these discussions with empathy, respect, and awareness of the complexities involved. If you have specific questions or need resources, I can try to help.

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Hey all, with the masscare in Jacksonville, Fl, I wanted to share a piece I wrote for Harvard Business Review. “As a Black man, I can’t leave my troubles at the door after the tragedy in Buffalo” was written after the horrible racist killing in Buffalo, New York. I talked about how Black people cannot be expected to just come to work after those murders, and not expect it to have some effect on our mental health.Unfortunately, you can think about what happened in Jacksonville and apply what I talked about in this essay. Corporate America expects people to be non-feeling; when you are at work, it is about work. However, that is not realistic. This denies how events impact people. In this case, Black people seeing and reading about other Black people being killed by a racist. We cannot be expected to just “shake it off” and go about our lives. This is an assault on our mental health and it needs to be framed as such.When I wrote the post on Sunday about how to interact with Black coworkers after the Jacksonville shooting, I wanted people to understand this is another day of Black people being attacked by racism/white supremacy. To have to read about this all the time and attempt to work and live is incredibly difficult. Being Black is hard.Please read this piece if you have not and think about where your Black coworkers/friends/lovers are. We may look strong, but even the strongest need a rest from this.#hr#corporateamerica#business#jacksonvillehttps://lnkd.in/gz5tKrRi

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If you are a leader of people, you need to read this. LeRon Barton explains the experience of so many of our colleagues in organizations today. Being blind to it, or dismissing it as 'outside of work' is a leadership failure. Company statements have their place. But meaningful connections with our team members, and the ability to provide room and grace when tragedies occur, is more impactful. Better yet is the addition of strategies that provide restorative support - and workplace policies and procedures that account for the mental health tax so many have to endure.

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