49. Navigating Racial Discrimination at Work with Jacquie Abram

Impostrix Podcast

We kick off the anti-discrimination mini-series with international best-selling author, consultant, and workplace anti-discrimination advocate Jacquie Abram. Jacquie shares her powerful and deeply personal journey experiencing many years of racial discrimination in the workplace, a journey that inspired her book series "Hush Money." We discuss the trauma she's endured and how she's turned her experiences into a resource for others facing similar challenges.

Jacquie talks about the importance of breaking the cycle of workplace discrimination and instead, recognizing and addressing the root issues. Her approach to advocacy is meticulous and informed by her nearly 20-year career in higher education, which has left her both traumatized and highly knowledgeable. Through her consultancy work, Jackie helps individuals understand and articulate their experiences, develop compelling complaints, and confront toxic work environments.

Jacquie and Whitney discuss some of the strategic advice on self-advocacy that Jacquie expands on in her books, including the importance of creating an arsenal of evidence from day one and using follow-up emails to document verbal praise or harmful incidents. These methods are crucial for countering claims of incompetence that often arise as a camouflage to discrimination.

Jacquie also opens up about the mental health impact of workplace toxicity, something that's deeply resonant. Her emphasis on recognizing and dealing with the trauma of such environments is invaluable.

The discussion sheds light on the covert nature of modern workplace racism and discrimination, including concepts like "workplace mobbing," where an employee is targeted and pressured by a leader and their enlistees. Jacquie's resilience is awe-inspiring; despite facing multiple career derailments and financial instability, she's managed to secure significant settlements against abusive employers and continue her fight against workplace discrimination.

This conversation is not merely an exploration of Jacquie's experiences but a powerful resource for anyone facing racial discrimination at work. Im truly grateful to Jacquie for sharing her story and insights on this platform.

To get help or reach out to Jacquie, find her on LinkedIn. She will respond! Her books can be purchased on Amazon.

Connect with Whitney on IG @ImpostrixPodcast or online at www.impostrixpodcast.com.

Thank you to Chris at Digital REM for keeping us on schedule and edited!