Member-only story
It’s Time for Black Women to Take Off the Corporate Mask
I not only hated my job, I hated myself. I knew something had to change.
Sometimes I wonder what my co-workers see when they look at me. For a long time, I tried to look and act the part, to behave the way that may be expected of me. I relaxed my hair. I wore smooth, slick buns and blazers, and was a regular contributor to meaningless corporate small talk about the weather. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: “Corporate Kasey.” I was dry. Stoic. Unsure. Bored and lonely. I received rave reviews from my superiors about my work performance and admirable morale, but none of my co-workers knew how miserable I was. I was the worst version of myself.
“Weekend Kasey,” conversely, was an absolute delight. I wore adorable clothes that made me look and feel incredible. I wore my hair loose and free, and I laughed loud and hard with no care for decorum. I was witty. Clever. Whimsical. Confident. Talented. Intelligent. I was the best version of myself outside of the confines and culture of the corporate workplace.
Unfortunately, this girl only showed up two days a week. For the other five days (otherwise known as “most of the time”), my loved ones and I had to contend with “Corporate Kasey” and the depressive gray cloud that hung above her. And if I wasn’t…
