Workplace Harm: Journaling Questions

When you look at Dr. Redwood’s findings about Black women being pushed out for doing the work they were hired to do, what patterns do you recognize in your own workplace or field?

If you are a white‑bodied, passing, or aligned woman, how have you responded in the past when a Black colleague set a clear boundary or pulled back from closeness with you? What feelings does that bring up, and what might you do differently now?

How do you understand the difference between being “friendly with” someone and being their “friend”? Where do your current cross‑racial relationships honestly fall on that spectrum?

Have you ever expected a Black colleague or friend to act as a “get out of racism free card” or a symbol of your goodness? What would it look like to shift from seeking validation to practicing accountability?

If you are a Black woman, where do you currently draw boundaries around your time, space, and emotional labor with white colleagues? What additional boundaries might support your well‑being, and what support do you need to hold them?

In your own life, what is one practical step you can take to honor Black women’s right to self‑definition and self‑protection—whether that means accepting less intimacy than you might want, respecting closed doors, or showing up more consistently as a collaborator/co‑conspirator?