I often get asked why I still do Black Ballad despite the challenges (the challenges being having to convince brands and organisations why they should invest in this audience — but that’s a story for another day, and maybe not even for this newsletter).
Since I started Black Ballad, the reason I still do it hasn’t really changed: I think black women are bomb. I think we are incredible. The way we continue to show strength in the face of adversity — adversity created by structures we exist in but didn’t create — is nothing short of amazing. The way we display our softness and vulnerability, and the way we fight to bring our fullness into every room, is just remarkable. The influence of black women is unmatched. So if you are a black woman reading this, I hope this has slightly gassed you up.
Yet our brilliance isn’t always acknowledged — and more often than not, that lack of acknowledgement comes from the workplace. I’m sure for some, and maybe many of you, that last sentence is unfortunately all too relatable.