I am a Woman, I am also Black, I Own a Business. So What's the Big Deal? A LOT! This is Why Representation Matters!

 

The Official BOB Symbol of Just Chill Custom Gifting By Carol (c) 2021

"The world is a complex place, and the influence of the media in its representation and its power of communication and interpretation is a remarkable amplifier of emotions, and of illusions."

 ~ Tarig Ramadan

If you are ever told representation doesn’t matter; don’t believe the hype! Representation does matter and sometimes we have no clue just how damn much our community representation matters.

True story:

As most of you know I’m a nurse, it is currently my full time job and is a career I’ve had for nearly 23 years ( however, I have been in the industry  about 30; whew!). I’ve always prided myself on my professional drive in my nursing career and over the years I’ve worked tirelessly on aspiring and achieving the status of a nurse 🏾‍⚕️ leader.

It has not been an easy road, I’ve faced numerous challenges, been silenced, disregard at times, plotted against at times ( yep some people can be diabolical indeed), overworked at times, and most certainly abused both verbally and physically at times. However, none of that has ever stopped me from striving and, most importantly, THRIVING in this profession.

I’ll admit now that in this moment it has become a real love- hate relationship, but nonetheless, I find moments daily in which I remember how I’m impacting others and why representation in ALL areas of our lives and ESPECIALLY in business matters!

So, the following is a true story of my own personal impact. 

 

I was in one of our many centers the other day doing what I do “ ensuring compliance “ ( yeah, us compliance no-it-all’s aren’t the most liked bunch... but we manage LOL ), anyway, as I was walking down the hall getting ready to enter the  facility's  boardroom there were two beautiful younger  black goddesses seated at the nurses station and as I walked by all I heard was “ Yep! That right there, I love that!".

So peaking my own curiosity I stopped to look at what they were liking so much. Seeing nothing particularly interesting, I walked back to the desk and asked “ hey what y’all looking at “ and to my surprise the one young goddess replied “ You ma'am !”  Me! ? I thought, as this revaluation took me a back for a moment, but I was curious as to why she said that so I shockingly replied back “ wait, what ? Me!? “ and she and her coworker, another beautiful goddess, both nodded in agreement and said in unison “ YES ! YOU”!

This, my friends was such a defining moment for me as a black American woman, I was both shocked & confused, as well as being both flattered and humbled as they continued to say (while pointing to their skin) “ you don’t see man of us in that room, and seeing you walk in that room gives us hope". My heart in that moment both elevated beyond the stars and then it sunk to the depths of my soul; thinking about how underrepresented we black women really can be in business.

For some people who see the numerous plastering of celebrities such as the Beyonce's and the Will Smith's of the world you might think I am being melodramatic. You may also look at my many wins in life and assume it was an easy path...I am here to tell you IT WAS NOT and IT IS NOT. In fact, what I have personally experienced is that I can have comparable or in some cases better qualifications then the next white professional, but I, 9 times out of 10, always somehow end up being passed up for various promotions and advancements. Its been demotivating, frustrating, and even heartbreaking breaking at times.

 

Ironically, I have always known partly why that is ( even in the most “ diverse and inclusive “ settings), but I guess in the process of simply working through the motions of gaining success, I never thought about the deeper impacts of being equally and fairly represented in my place of business. Fact! Non-whites make up a very large number of bedside caregivers, yet, their appearance and representation in the upper echelons of our healthcare system is barely visible. Fact is, I have sat many times in solidarity with myself among the masses. That seat at times can be a VERY lonely place to be at times (i.e. silenced ...enter stage right).

But...as I sometimes do, I digressed a bit from my point, and that is to say this, it was truly a humbling experience to know I impacted these ladies lives that day and, more importantly, that I represented for them, that it’s possible for a little black girl to develop into a strong black women who has what it takes and is worthy enough to gain a seat in a boardroom. Yes! Representation does matter; believe that! 

 

End note: In my quest for finding a universal symbol to place on my website to indicate I was a black female owned business, I could find none. So, in true Carol fashion I created and crafted my own! What you see above is my personally created symbol.  I am very proud of everything it represents! 

With that, have a blessed day and please remember to always let your gratitude fuel your attitude! 

 

Carol 

Carol Hill Owner/Lead Happiness Ambassador in the Showroom North, Homer, NY 

 

Carol Hill is a mom, a long time nurse, certified professional  life and leadership development coach, a consultant, and Lead Happiness Ambassador and the owner/operator of Just Chill Custom Gifting By Carol. 

 

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