this is on my heart after a talk with a loved one. my dear black (and other women of color, too) women, dealing with these women of a certain persuasion in the workplace- I've been there, so many times. I've seen it at work, I've heard stories from every friend I can think of. but know that you gotta play the game. you have to go that extra mile to be polite and make sure you aren't seen as the angry black woman. I know. it's annoying. you wanna keep it real. so you're short ... with Beth, who can't seem to do their job right, or Holly somehow making your job harder being uncooperative. the minute you invest your feelings (and ego) in workplace, you begin to do unprofessional things. trust me, I KNOW. but you have to push past that. because the minute your boss pulls you into the office to discuss your "behavior", know that it's too late. Vicky has already painted you as threatening. unapproachable. standoffish. nobody cares that Susan/Karen/Becky wasn't a good coworker either. Just that you made the work environment hostile when you walked in the building and didn't say good morning. EVEN IF it was because your phone pushed that email from your boss where Chloe's share of the work didn't get done. it is NOT right. you shouldn't HAVE to go the extra mile. but push your ego to the side. you can't collect receipts trying to preserve your "realness". prom gowns with ruffles

Help me out. Drop your experiences with people like this in me comments. I have a story too.