Never Defeated: Essays of Truth, Empowerment, and Healing

This Women's History Month, I'm thrilled to let you know that the first book in my "Stop Playing Diversity" series is set to launch on March 23. Never Defeated: Nine Unexpected Lessons Learned on the Workplace Frontlines is its name, and let me tell you, it's been a labor of love and resilience.

Why Never Defeated?

Cast your minds back to May 15, 2020. Picture me, tears streaming down my face at a Zoom party, which was supposed to be celebrating the end of my 4 ? year tenure as a department chair. There I was, with my husband and son by my side in my home office, feeling the sting of injustice as colleagues and adversaries alike filled my screen.

The irony of the moment wasn't lost on me as my successor, who never aspired to the role, prepared to take the reins, presenting my numerous accomplishments as a chair. It was a hollow celebration, overshadowed by the battles I was still waging for my department, with no tangible recognition for my efforts or sacrifices despite colleagues’ presentation of a homemade plaque. Over the next few years, I would seek clarity and write about the behind-the-scenes incivility that made my term so tortuous.

The silence from my supervisor in those last three months, as I steered our department through a global pandemic and racial unrest, was deafening. Workplace policies about the treatment of women of color at work and civility were vague. Humanity was absent. I left that role questioning the justice of everything that happened. At the time, no one in leadership seemed willing to engage in a conversation about a proper transition or reconciliation not only for me but for my entire department.

In those lonely moments, I stood on the workplace frontlines, defending the desire for change but lacking a united front. I felt the weight of every workplace casualty in this fight. But during that Zoom call, through the tears, I declared that I was never defeated — even if I wasn't quite sure what that meant at the time.

What’s Never Defeated about?

Now, four years later, I've channeled my experiences into nine essays featuring a tweet at the beginning of each chapter, where you'll learn how to

• Navigate the Thorns and Workplace Mind Games
• Discern the Dog and Pony Shows
• Accept Delays Aren’t Always Denials
• Combat Toxic Positivity
• Fortify Against the Pushback from Oppressive Systems
• Conserve Your DEI Energy
• Prioritize Your Workplace Wellness
• Create the Space You Need to Heal from Professional Games
• Move Forward from Workplace Trauma

This book isn't just recounting events; it's about calling out the unspoken, the unseen, and urging you to trust your instincts. It conveys a healing process that has led me to acknowledge the indifference I faced from those who played at diversity but never fully championed it.

Never Defeated is more than a collection of stories; it's a compass to guide you through the work labyrinth. Within its pages, I lay out tactics for tackling "workplace thorns" and navigating the misleading maneuvers you're bound to face. Consider this book a protective shield, crafted for those moments when the path ahead is uncharted and you find yourself traversing the trickiest of terrains.

Yet, this book isn't solely about fortifying your defenses. It's also about healing from deep workplace wounds. For anyone who's been crushed or cast aside, I offer my narrative as a beacon, helping you craft havens of tranquility and return to a place of serenity. The affirmations presented at the end of each chapter are there to remind you that you're enough no matter what anyone says and that you are not alone on your professional journey.

I dedicate this book to the approximately 60,000 social media allies who have bolstered me from afar, affirming that my voice has weight. Your support has galvanized me to forge work that challenges the yoke of oppression and imparts strategies for everyone to stand up to oppression at work.

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I appreciate you.

The Stop Playing Diversity newsletter is a biweekly newsletter to start conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and work that should be happening but aren’t. This concept aligns with James Baldwin’s quote, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with others who might gain value from it. The author of this newsletter is Dr. Monica Cox, a professor, entrepreneur, truthteller, and disruptor of workplace injustices.

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