How would you have handled this?

[StrangeFruit]

I overstand the corporate space idea, but it definitely is something that I will have to work on. The September issue of Black Enterprise Magazine cover story talks about how black women reached the "top." I didn't read the entire thing yet, but it did mention networking and/or creating relationships.

My mother always told me, "Go to work, Do your work, keep your mouth shut, get your check, go home, cash your check and go do all over again the next day."
Although I understand where she's coming from I think it hindered(s) my growth potential. My mother to this day holds onto to this philosophy. She's successful and always on her toes, but from what she tells me, they don't really care for her b/c she black, female, smart and always a step ahead of them. She doesn't do the baby showers, bridal showers, religious witnessing at the job, etc. She basically goes to work, does her job, gets the check, goes home, travels all over the world, and goes back the next day and do all over again.

But she recently expressed to me that that may not be the right or best thing to do.

We need learn and know the office politics and the BS. It can only help us (benefit us) in the long-run.

I know when I "played the game" to a degree, my situation was better than when I didn't play the game.

I always equated "playing the game" or "corporate space" as selling out or conforming and that wasn't going to me (after all I'm ms. pro-black, daughter of angela davis-joke), but we have to be a part of the corporate space. Our journey is to find a way to do that without loosing who we are or feeling that we're being fake or at least that's my journey.

I'll step down now.

Peace & Luv yall.