Somebody Check on Linkedin
Welcome to This Black-Ass Life! We hope you rested this Labor Day and celebrated SOLIDARITY. This week, like many, has been a lot. So we want to keep it light and discuss LinkedIn influencers who are wilding in the professional social network content streets! We are talking shit, and it’s fun.
I. The Facts
LinkedIn is supposedly designed for professional networking and career development, but people stay on some weirdo behavior on that site. From creating weeks-long debate on boundary-setting in the workplace and calling it quiet-quitting to people straight up lying on their children, it’s getting weird!
Let’s start with the I will do work for free posts, which extol the values of working nonstop and accepting almost nothing to get ahead. Why are you salivating for a tummy rub from your employer? It’s work, the whole damn point is to get paid cash money.
Then there are the posts of employers openly ignoring what workers want (i.e., respect and money) for platitudes and empty gestures. Getting an opportunity to have coffee with your leadership team is like having lunch with the school district superintendent for reading, no one wants that. Also, this was a real “prize” I (Jumoke) got in middle school.
The glamorization of working ridiculous hours in ridiculous weather conditions for ridiculous pay. Are these people opps for companies because ain’t no way!
Your child did not say that! Stop lying on your babies! Five-year-olds don’t make performance evaluation plans for their parents. Three-year-olds don’t know how to pronounce Booz Allen Hamilton. Also, why was your baby in a suit at the exact moment this conversation was happening? Boss Baby is a character, not real life. (The theme song is fire though.)
Is everyone a leadership or, worse yet, a wellness coach? You are not well yourself, Cindy, how can I take advice from you?
I (Jumoke) have an executive coach, and she’s amazing and probably reading this. Hi Natalie!
Why does it matter?
Jokes aside, Americans, after decades of exhausting their bodies and minds, are finally being less productive. That’s a good thing; we’ve busted our asses to the detriment of our mental and physical health, and the pandemic has refocused our attention away from work.
It’s not a coincidence that a lot of the nonsense on LinkedIn is about rededicating ourselves to our work life.
People are doing a lot for employers who don’t care about them, and it’s funny!
What can my Black ass do?
Laugh!
Keep your hot takes off LinkedIn (and honestly the Internet!).
II. Other Things
Black-ass happenings
Honk for Jesus held a mirror to the Black church. The most unrealistic part of that movie is the premise that the congregation would leave after a scandal.
Nicole Beharie is perfect in Honk for Jesus, and it’s so great any time her talent gets shine.
This is a Michael Arceneaux stan newsletter; read Please Don’t Downplay Tevin Campbell Sharing His Sexual Identity.
A new Jasmine Guillory joint is upon us! We will be reading Drunk on Love on publication date (September 20).
Congratulations to the Emmy Award Winning Big Grrrls!
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Jumoke):
I don’t know why Shalamar is on repeat but here we are!
Things we look forward to / don't look forward to:
I (Jumoke) look forward to going on Safari for my birthday!
I (Mitu) look forward to The Woman King.
lll. Call-out from a Black-Ass Baby
Kaavia put her mama on notice!
Stay Black, have a snack and take a nap today. We'll hit your inbox next on September 19.