Welcome to Reconcile Digest #7. I’m so glad you’re here.

I have been called ‘articulate’ many times over the years, despite always having a role where articulation was the entire job description. Any black academic (or black professional, for that matter) might have experienced being subject to surprised faces at their ability to assert themselves with grace or speak with clarity and candour.

‘There’s a price to be paid for making them laugh and for not making them laugh, and I have strategically chosen the latter’

McGee & Kazembe (2015)

This digest translates research on a complex experience I had never seen put into words before: Black academics being viewed through a lens of fascination and entertainment, rather than expertise.

Honestly, I can’t wait to hear what you have to say about this.

full access to today’s reference + questions for reflection

Beyond academia, are there any other spaces where this is common?
Presenting research is meant to showcase intellect and innovation, yet for Black professionals, it can sometimes lead to hyper-visibility (or worse, extra scrutiny). In what ways can this visibility be both empowering and precarious, and how might institutions/companies balance this tension?
There has been a lot of talk on social media about code-switching. This research talks about the self-sacrifice of this act - how do these themes resonate with broader experiences of code-switching, identity negotiation, or emotional labour in professional settings?
On a personal level, if you resonate with any of the themes in this research and would be willing to share with me, I would love to talk about it. Email me back!