40 Hours for 40 Acres™: A poem for Black women in business
40 Hours for 40 Acres™ is a belief that equitable experiences and outcomes are table stakes to retain underrepresented, undervalued talent. It is rooted in commitments to self-preservation, self-actualization, and compensation for Black women and other marginalized people in the workplace.
Until workplaces live up to DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging) values so all people can work fairly and safely, we will build alternate pathways to financial security while limiting our exposure to toxic workplaces. The 40 Hours for 40 Acres™ (40 for 40) boot camp is the first step in that roadmap.
In solidarity,
Candace
40 hours for 40 acres
We will not spend (at least) 40 hours per week where we are underpaid, under-recognized, and overworked.
We will not continue to break our backs, minds, and hearts for jobs that won’t break a sweat for our advancement and well-being.
We are not your mules.
We will not spoon-feed you incremental change while drinking from the firehose of interpersonal and financial violence.
We will not assume ‘best intent’ when the record shows otherwise, from the 40 acres to earning nearly 40% less than our White male peers.
We are not your corporate mammies.
No longer will we turn water into wine with poorly-defined, under-resourced, high-risk work.
We will not endure the trauma and fatigue of keeping ourselves straight in crooked rooms never meant for our presence, much less success.
We are not your sacrificial lambs nor your saviors.
We will not create value without also claiming our due share of rewards and recognition.
We will not let you divorce our presence from our impact. We require you to learn your ABCs of Attribution, Belonging, and Compensation.
We are your partners, not your property.
We will not wade in your toxic waters hoping for change when you’ve shown us that is neither your promise nor priority.
We stand united in our commitments to healing and liberation. We reclaim our time, talents, and humanities.
