Dear white friends, colleagues, and contacts —
FOUR YEARS AGO THE WORLD WAS INTRODUCED TO BLACK LINKEDIN
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?????????????This post celebrates the 4th anniversary of the public introduction of Black LinkedIn in The New York Times.
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??In mid-2020, a combination of Covid-induced home working and the televised public murder of George Floyd catalyzed unprecedented posts on LinkedIn calling for an end to the anti-Blackness and racism ingrained in all Western economic, social, and political systems and institutions.
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????LinkedIn’s white executives, managers, and content moderators reacted defensively and ruthlessly. Numerous Black users’?antiracism posts were removed without explanation. Many Black users’?posts were restricted so only they could see them. Some Black users’?accounts were suspended or cancelled.
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??Then, in October 2020, The New York Times — one of America’s and the world’s most respected newspapers — published the article:?“Black LinkedIn Is Thriving. Does LinkedIn Have a Problem With That?" by Black journalist (now broadcasting executive) Ashanti Maya Martin.
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??Ashanti coined the term?“Black LinkedIn” to introduce the spontaneous movement of Black antiracism content creators — overwhelmingly Black women — who were demanding to be heard by decision-makers, including Linkedin’s. Ashanti exposed the hidden conflictual dynamics between LinkedIn’s white executives and managers and many of its Black users.
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SINCE THEN
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????Since the article’s publication four years ago, LinkedIn’s executives and managers have plainly accepted some responsibility to treat anti-Blackness, racism, and antiracism as important work and life issues.
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????That this has happened is a credit to Black LinkedIn’s earliest antiracism content creators; to Ashanti Maya Martin for her impactful NYT article; and to the thousands of antiracism content creators and other contributors now active on LinkedIn.
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????Two caveats to the point above about LinkedIn’s acceptance of some responsibility: 1) Its algorithm has been modified to reduce visibility of antiracism posts,?“to improve efficiency”; and 2) Content moderators still take down antiracism posts (claiming they violate guidelines), only reinstating them when their decisions are challenged.
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????These caveats are just small reminders of the power LinkedIn – the leading human resourcing platform – wields in helping to ensure continuous white dominance across the Western business world.
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I WANT TO
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????CELEBRATE the 4th anniversary of Black LinkedIn’s public introduction and the people involved;
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????ACKNOWLEDGE that — in the past four years — LinkedIn’s white executives and managers have made noticeable efforts to fulfil their responsibilities to help end anti-Blackness and racism;
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????THANK LinkedIn’s executives for making it possible for me to engage with so many Black LinkedIn content creators…named in three lists under Comments; and
????URGE you to follow the Black content creators I’ve listed.
