The 10,000 Interns Foundation reposted this
CEO of The 10,000 Interns Foundation, First Black woman to swim for Great Britain | TIME List, Forbes 30 Under 30, Global 100 Most Influential People of African Descent | Author & Speaker
I'm so sick of hearing the phrase 'Black excellence' What about [Black] joy, imagination, creativity, vision, courage, commitment... Because all of these things are excellent.. But they don't fit neatly within outdated standards that define success in a very narrow way. This past week we watched Lewis Hamilton and Bukayo Saka deliver exceptionally in their sports. This is undoubtedly excellence, they are at the top of their game and leading on a world stage But a while back, I noticed something that continues to frustrate me... The media always talk about Saka being a destined for greatness AND a 'straight A student'... Which is great. But doesn't make him more or less visionary, or committed to his chosen field, or worthy of respect, or capable of creating joy on and off the pitch Black sports people are not super heroes, they aren't perfect. And they need to exist beyond this narrow set of expectations 'Black excellence' is a demand that you be exceptional all the time, everywhere, at everything, all at once. And the stakes for making even a single mistake are so high. Blackness is not a monolith. We have so many ways of being, thinking, seeing and moving through the world And I for one, want to exist beyond the expectation that I be excellent in a way that I did not define. Black joy is excellent! And if you're watching the match tonight, win or lose, let the thrill of the game be the main reason. And let it be joyful !! P.S., Come on England !!
Why the need to add black as a prefix to anything, anyway? Lewis Hamilton is quite simply the greatest F1 driver that has ever lived (in my opinion, opinions may differ)
Absolutely love this take. Even when they lose they’re still heroic. And as black communities, we are worthy and deserving of good things even if we have mediocre or bad days, just as all people are! 🫶🏽
That is so true and as always you are a legend and an icon
Such a great point - diversity isn’t just the Black community, there’s so much diversity within the Black community. (Come on Engerlanddd !!)
Pow!! Just POW!! Truth is truth. Just got your book through and can't wait to get into it. Keep shining. We see you ✨️
I hear you. The idea that we are valid, only when we are excellent is a bit tiring - but it's part of the course; part of the current process. I don't want to sound like 'that guy' - but I suppose, when F1 has multiple Black drivers, and when the Premier League has multiple Black managers, and when the Banking Industry has multiple Black CEOs, the insatiable desire and need for 'excellence' to be the only label-definition will start to dissipate. There are lots and lots and lots of 'mediocre' people in positions of power & influence - and whilst I'm not advocating that we aim for mediocrity; it will a good day, when someone 'like' Hamilton, or 'like' Saka can receive the same level of respect, encouragement and opportunities without the unrealistic bar that is currently set for these incumbents.
This statement as well as 'first black' drain my soul so much. This is why we were taught to work twice as hard. This is why so many of us are so anxious in our roles because we have to be excellent at everything. And if we fail, it affects every other black person who will ever apply for the same role or ever try to do the same thing. It's a very conscious bias. I'm glad we are able to have these conversations and I hope generations behind us will get the pressure eased on them. It's okay to try something and be average at it or even to just enjoy it.
Black excellence has always felt like a ‘fighting against the tide’ sort of term for me. On one hand I have always and will always be passionate and proud to celebrate Black personal development and growth but on the other, I feel the term is usually used a reaction to white supremacy, which for Black prople feels tiring and almost invalidated for every other emotion that we all deserve to feel and be. It’s a redundant phase for me because as Black people and as human beings we have to be seen (and see ourselves) in our full human condition. The joy, the pain, the confusion, the anger, the happiness - all of it and more. Either see us as this and all of it, or not at all. Too often whiteness forces Black people to feel validated as ‘excellent’ and this has to change. Thank you for shining a light on this Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell 🙏🏽
Founder & CEO at Crest Impact | Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Impact Consultant | Global Project Manager
1moWill you be saying something about Kenya as well? We currently have a revolution happening there that affects millions of Black people and need all the voices we can for support. It amazes me that we have so many people linked to Kenya living abroad who have not yet been frustrated enough to say something on this platform along with their other concerns for Black people, when Kenya has lost the lives of unarmed protestors as young as 17 years old. We even have younger ones in hospital nursing injuries from bullets.