Summary

In Chapter 5, “Whiteness at Work” (67), Brown describes some of the issues with racism she has encountered in the professional sphere. Somewhat ironically, many of these instances occurred while Brown was working with companies developing diversity initiatives for bringing more people of color onboard and ensuring the work environment was accepting to all. She describes a hypothetical day at work based on real events. First, a co-worker touches her hair without permission. Then, her supervisor reprimands her for making this co-worker uncomfortable in her response to having her hair touched without permission. She goes to lunch with friends, and when she returns, she is reprimanded for wearing headphones at work, even though many of her co-workers also wear them. She is asked questions about racial issues as though she were an expert simply because she is Black. She steps out to go to the...