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Abstract

actually put food on the table at the end of the day? Nope, it doesn’t.The thing is, the facts are clear: if you are not paying for something, you will not value it and if you do not value it, you will not respect it.So folks, if you are not paying a Black woman for her time, it simply means that you do not respect her. I don't care who you are, a white woman, white man, or another Black woman, if you are not offering me any form of compensation for my time, it simply means you are further contributing to a racist, sexist system that oppresses and exploits Black women. Ultimately, you are part of the problem.In the last few months, two of my anti-racism activist friends have had burnouts. Some people say that they bit off more than they could chew. For me, there are two reasons this happened.One is that talking about racism eats at your soul. It is mentally exhausting to recount painful and traumatic experiences. Second, they were not getting paid at all or well enough to only focus on a few tasks. On top of non-paying or minimally paid work, they were obligated to take on a lot more gigs to put food on the table.Any minute a Black woman isn’t paid for her work is a minute she is getting exploited and cheated out of her worth. It’s a despicable practice, one that should cease to exist.Like many antiracism activists, I have a day job. I cannot afford to live on my antiracism work only, but I should be able to should I choose to do so.I know many activists out there — climate activists for example. Many are able to focus on their activism only because they receive the funding to do so. Anti-racism however doesn't seem to have th

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at much support.But still, why is it that so many people don’t want to see the value of Black women? Is it because people see us on the lowest rank of the manmade, artificial hierarchy of racism? It takes an unethical type of human being to approach a Black woman and seek to exploit her. Haven’t we been exploited enough through time — from enslavement to colonialism to other despicable scourges?So yeah, maybe this was just a venting exercise, but it had to come out and I know that many Black female writers and activists would agree with the points that I have made.The other day I was talking to my Mum who is an electrical engineer and went to the equivalent of an Ivy League school in the UK. She has over 40 years of experience in international development yet she regularly gets approached to do free work. At one stage, we worked in the same field and I directly witnessed other consultants being paid — especially white men.She mentioned to me that she felt it was above her to ask for compensation for some of the consultancy work she does.“But Mum, that only contributes to people thinking they don’t need to pay Black women. By not getting paid, you are making it okay for other Black women to not get paid, and that’s not okay”.My mum understood my point and decided that she would make sure she was paid for her time.I just wish that I’ll never again have to turn down a gig because I’m not offered any form of compensation for the value I bring. If you don’t want to pay Black women for their work, that simply means that you can never be a genuine ally to them.Thank you for reading my perspective.</article></body>

Why Would A Black Woman Want To Get Paid For Her Work Like White People Are?

I mean, can’t Black women just work for free?

The other day, I was talking with another Black female antiracism activist and writer. We started comparing notes about our experiences, and one thing kept coming up again and again. It was the fact that no one ever wanted to pay us for our work — neither white people nor other Black people.

It was like we were expected to do it all for free all the time. We are approached to run anti-racism training and to speak on podcasts and at events and so forth, but they want us to do it all for free. Like really? WTF.

Anti-racism is a topic that means a lot to me because if done well and thoroughly, it could bring about a racism-free world. It gives me hope. It’s also important for me for my mixed-race children to live in a world devoid of racism. I have often been over-eager to convert racists and everyone in between to antiracism.

Many times, organizations have told me upfront that they couldn’t afford to pay my meager fees, but I have seen them pay white people handsomely.

These same organizations have voiced that the exposure that I’ll get from being a guest at their event or on their show, will be ample compensation for me not getting paid. Like really? WTF. Does exposure actually put food on the table at the end of the day? Nope, it doesn’t.

The thing is, the facts are clear: if you are not paying for something, you will not value it and if you do not value it, you will not respect it.

So folks, if you are not paying a Black woman for her time, it simply means that you do not respect her. I don't care who you are, a white woman, white man, or another Black woman, if you are not offering me any form of compensation for my time, it simply means you are further contributing to a racist, sexist system that oppresses and exploits Black women. Ultimately, you are part of the problem.

In the last few months, two of my anti-racism activist friends have had burnouts. Some people say that they bit off more than they could chew. For me, there are two reasons this happened.

One is that talking about racism eats at your soul. It is mentally exhausting to recount painful and traumatic experiences. Second, they were not getting paid at all or well enough to only focus on a few tasks. On top of non-paying or minimally paid work, they were obligated to take on a lot more gigs to put food on the table.

Any minute a Black woman isn’t paid for her work is a minute she is getting exploited and cheated out of her worth. It’s a despicable practice, one that should cease to exist.

Like many antiracism activists, I have a day job. I cannot afford to live on my antiracism work only, but I should be able to should I choose to do so.

I know many activists out there — climate activists for example. Many are able to focus on their activism only because they receive the funding to do so. Anti-racism however doesn't seem to have that much support.

But still, why is it that so many people don’t want to see the value of Black women? Is it because people see us on the lowest rank of the manmade, artificial hierarchy of racism? It takes an unethical type of human being to approach a Black woman and seek to exploit her. Haven’t we been exploited enough through time — from enslavement to colonialism to other despicable scourges?

So yeah, maybe this was just a venting exercise, but it had to come out and I know that many Black female writers and activists would agree with the points that I have made.

The other day I was talking to my Mum who is an electrical engineer and went to the equivalent of an Ivy League school in the UK. She has over 40 years of experience in international development yet she regularly gets approached to do free work. At one stage, we worked in the same field and I directly witnessed other consultants being paid — especially white men.

She mentioned to me that she felt it was above her to ask for compensation for some of the consultancy work she does.

“But Mum, that only contributes to people thinking they don’t need to pay Black women. By not getting paid, you are making it okay for other Black women to not get paid, and that’s not okay”.

My mum understood my point and decided that she would make sure she was paid for her time.

I just wish that I’ll never again have to turn down a gig because I’m not offered any form of compensation for the value I bring. If you don’t want to pay Black women for their work, that simply means that you can never be a genuine ally to them.

Thank you for reading my perspective.