Take Your Seat To Any Table You Want 🪑

484 words | 1 min 56 secs read time

We're often fed a particular kind of "success story." One where someone (usually a man) goes from sleeping in his car to becoming a millionaire through sheer determination and hustle.

While these rags-to-riches tales are meant to inspire, they reinforce a problematic narrative for women of color: that we must suffer, struggle, and "pay our dues" to deserve success.

Because of this narrative, we think we have to start from the absolute bottom when we consider pursuing a dream outside of our current career. We think:

• "I've finally 'made it' in this field. Am I crazy to leave?"

• "What if I can't replicate my success somewhere else?"

• "What will I have to do to prove myself all over again?"

These fears aren't just personal doubts. They're the voice of internalized oppression telling us we must stay in our career lane once we find one that works. We don't. You've not only earned a seat at your current career table, but you can also carry that seat and saddle up to any other table you like.

Your exp…