The Cost of Being Black in Corporate America

Hush Money

By: Jacquie Abram, Deborah Harris, Delilah Harris

Narrated by: Peg Barcelo

I never knew the cost of being Black in Corporate America. The price I would pay with my dignity and fundamental rights as a human being just to have a job that wasn't in a low-income sector. A job that had a satisfying career path and gave me and my family a chance to live the American Dream. But if I knew then what I know now, maybe I would've done things differently before taking the job that traumatized and nearly destroyed me.

Maybe I would've bleached my dark skin to make it lighter or removed my long Dookie braids to straighten my hair. Maybe I would've bought blue contacts to hide my brown eyes and got a nose job with a butt reduction, too—you know, do all the things I should’ve, would’ve, could’ve done to look less like me and more like them just to fit into a mold I had no part in creating.

No, I know me. And even if I could go back in time to that fateful day that changed my life in the worst way, I wouldn't change a thing, 'cause I'm the strong, beautiful, Black woman God created me to be—dark skin, Dookie braids, big butt, and all. And although the last five years of my employment were horrific and I suffered in ways most people cannot imagine, that's all behind me now because I proved systemic racism in my workplace, kept my job, and was offered a six-figure settlement, among other things.

And when I return to work after four weeks of paid vacation, I’ll be confident that my career future will be better than my career past and excited that my battles against systemic racism in my workplace have finally come to an end. After all, lightning never strikes the same place twice…or so I thought.

©2022 Deborah McDaniel (P)2022 Deborah McDaniel

Amazing work from start to finish!

I loved the way the author captivated the readers attention. The narrator had a way of telling the story and changing the voice of each character that allowed the reader to feel personally connected to each character. The story line and series of events were debilitating for so many reasons. Just when you think things were starting to get better or couldn’t get any worse there would always be some kind of traumatic event. I also loved that she finally caught a break for a brief moment… OR SO I THOUGHT.. 😭 Definitely need a part 3. Highly recommended audiobook series!! Well done!!

Profoundly relatable

Most inspiring prose on work place issues black women face when making the grade in corporate America. Explained in real time and in a time when these experiences and tools to fight these experiences are needed the most.

How?

After all Ebony had gone through, it was difficult to understand how she could trust? My mom's health began to decline rapidly in 2018, and she passed February 29, 2020, which was leap year. I had a boss who not only did not support her team, but would throw them under the bus, if it meant trying to fit in with corporate! In 2018, when I told this boss that my sister had found my mom in dire conditions, she simply said, "we're just going to say that your mom is going to be alright.." It wasn't until the owner came to the property a week later, and told me to take time off to go visit my mom, who at this point had been placed in a Nursing facility, that she did not like. For the way I saw this boss move, and after her uncaring answer when I had told her about my mom, I absolutely did not have one iota of respect for her, or the company, for allowing someone like her to have charge over the rest of us, and beside, she was a poor leader, and she lied. This was the sentiment of the management team there, who knew she was incapable of doing her job, but faked along EVERYDAY! I trusted no one, but I also made it 100% clear that if you came for me, you'd get me! I was working around 70 hours a week, being paid well, and neglecting home. Because this boss had such poor leadership and management skills, several corporate people came in for a management meeting. Well, guess who they chose to speak first? Yep, me! As I'm normally reserved, but had decided, NOTHING was worth this wicked bullshit, I just went for it. I spilled, and just laid everything out, even telling corporate, my boss, and the rest of the managers in the room, that the disdain and disrespect that our leader showed her staff was disgusting. I told them no one owned me, and that I was free, and just because I worked that job, I would NEVER allow anyone to talk and act to me any kind of way, and simply be quiet about it. I even told them their conversations sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher to me. I knew what would be next, and I was past caring. About 2 weeks later, I was told by the Corporate Director of HR, that they were going in a different direction, and because Virginia was an 'at will' state, I was being given the chance to resign. I took it, took my severance and my vacation pay, and gladly left these wicked beings ... with my mind at ease and rest. This company was owned by a Black women, but every trusted person she surrounded herself with on the corporate level, were all white. It's been hard, but NOTHING, and surely no job, is worth my peace of mind, nor my silence, or somebody's slave/master mentality. I spent the next months visiting my mom, who lived 125 miles away, and thanked GOD, that he freed me, to have that time with Ma before her passing.

Excellent, accurate, expose'

The writers have reproduced the minds of white racists who staff and lead America's public and private organizations that make up the work environment of African Americans in America. This work is a literary template, a seminal work, a powerful tell all for those who chance has lead into its presence. This work is a must read for any white American who wants to interrogate the mind of white racists who host and execute the evilness of racism that is cloaked in the sounds and behaviors of organizational "normalcy". The writers decipher the technical insights and practices that an African American must master in order to not only do their jobs well but also to employ best practices regarding documentation of illegal racist behaviors hosted in their work organizations.
This wonderful book uses the power of the story to shine a glaring light on the reality of American racism in the work place.

Unexpected ending

Part 2 answers some questions left at the end of the first book. There are many twists and turns in this part that led to a very unexpected ending. Although the first book can definitely stand on its own, I highly recommend getting the rest of the story. I still have questions. Please write book 3 !! Ten stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So informative. You can "feel" the pain.

A very important story that will have you turningpage after page. You can feel the pain and suffering.

As a white man, this book inspires me to learn to be an anti-racist and to be better!!

Enriching journey

The author wove a thoroughly engaging journey through the trials and triumphs of corporate racism. She provides a roadmap to overcome this scourge while sharing her personal costs as well as the unseen costs to the perpetrators.

Sequel - just as moving

This sequel to Hush Money is just as engaging as their first book. I loved the moving descriptions of Ebony’s last days with her mother, a deeper dive into who she is. And window into an organization steeped in white supremacy, mediocrity and power struggles.
Read it!

Relevant …Necessary

A powerful book about the realities of corporate America .I definitely recommend it . One of the best books I’ve read

Love the Protagonist

I love the protagonist, Ebony. Her whole family is so precious and I am happy to hear more of her origin story. The challenges she faces, the highs, the lows, and the depravity she deals with... it's with such grace too.

The voice actor does a great job communicating the necessary grace required to calmly formulate responses while under extreme stress. She does an excellent job of demonstrating the strength of family and their bond. The characters are wonderfully fleshed out by her voice.

I think the first book is the best, but I think that's allowable -- it's really fantastic.