Can you become a successful black man in America without buck dancing for white folks?

[godkiller]

I'm a young man 18.I plan on learning a trade or two and I'm just wondering do I have to shuck and juck to get hired and stack my money up? To me it seems like most successful blacks do some sort of for white folks to stack their paper up. I can't imagine myself working and a white guy is barking orders at me.

Is it possible? Yes. But getting struck by lightning 3 times in your life is also possible, just very, very unlikely. In real life, virtually every successful black man has to shuck and jive. That's why you often meet successful black men who don't talk in slang, wear cac approved attire, refuse to be controversial where cacs can see them, etc. This is not a coincidence.

As a young man the answer is that you have to shuck and jive--act Americanized and non-threatening--to get ahead. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice everything. I don't call it "shucking and jiving"; I call it "being professional". It helps me do it when I don't want to do it anymore too.

 

[Ohene]

truth be told...one thing I realized in my job search is that being yourself benefits you more than it does your employer.

Your employer can always cut you loose once they figure that you dont fit or if your performance is not up to par. Being yourself by not overselling your skills and staying true to your position will land you a job in a place that you actually do fit and will put the pressure on your employer. In a year period I had like 8 interviews and finally landed a job on the 9th (while already employed). During the interview I wasnt even trying that hard to impress...I did minimal preparation and so far the place has been great. Manager is cool and I never feel like I have to be fake at the office.

 

[godkiller]

truth be told...one thing I realized in my job search is that being yourself benefits you more than it does your employer.

Your employer can always cut you loose once they figure that you dont fit or if your performance is not up to par. Being yourself by not overselling your skills and staying true to your position will land you a job in a place that you actually do fit and will put the pressure on your employer. In a year period I had like 8 interviews and finally landed a job on the 9th (while already employed). During the interview I wasnt even trying that hard to impress...I did minimal preparation and so far the place has been great. Manager is cool and I never feel like I have to be fake at the office.

Well if anyone does 10 interviews, they're bound to get lucky eventually. Maybe the fact you weren't prepared or impressive influenced those last 8 employers not to hire you. In general it is best to be as prepared and impressive as possible, not just when it comes to job searching but in everyday life. This is how what people hired, fired and promoted. I spoke to a black electronic company executive a few months ago and he said that black people have a shorter leash than others. He said you have to be on point as much as possible. The guy himself was dressed immaculately, head to toe, in business attire. His aura alone drew me in.

 

[1stPick]

LOL at being black and living in a predominantly white country. Just LOL.

 

[godkiller]

@Demetrius

When I say "shucking and jiving", I mean professionally, not personally. You don't have to "shuck and jive" at home, just whenever there is an opportunity to advancement and it involves impressing non-blacks. This is the unfortunate reality of living in a white world that wants "white professionalism". On the other hand, if you ever come up with your own business, you set the parameters about how you want to act. So long as you sell product, nothing else matters.

 

[Hardest Since MC Ren]

But cac respect good work and results and good skills sets.....

.

Spoken like a fakkit ass c00n
Hate cacs but you yearn for their respect that much??

Every fukking body respects good work and results...no matter their race or background.

 

[Blackking]

Spoken like a fakkit ass c00n
Hate cacs but you yearn for their respect that much??

Every fukking body respects good work and results...no matter their race or background.

Look at you.

Lol, of course you can't stay off my dikk.

They mentioned white people so I said cac and not everyone.
Point was, there is never an excuse to act like a c00n , or tapdance as they say.
If ur professional and have a skill ur good.

 

[Hardest Since MC Ren]

Look at you.

Lol, of course you can't stay off my dikk.

They mentioned white people so I said cac and not everyone.
Point was, there is never an excuse to act like a c00n , or tapdance as they say.
If ur professional and have a skill ur good.

No nikka u just slipped up and let your c00n colors shine thru

Lol@negging me talking bout i aint Black..

 

[Ohene]

Well if anyone does 10 interviews, they're bound to get lucky eventually. Maybe the fact you weren't prepared or impressive influenced those last 8 employers not to hire you. In general it is best to be as prepared and impressive as possible, not just when it comes to job searching but in everyday life. This is how what people hired, fired and promoted. I spoke to a black electronic company executive a few months ago and he said that black people have a shorter leash than others. He said you have to be on point as much as possible. The guy himself was dressed immaculately, head to toe, in business attire. His aura alone drew me in.

thats not what I said.

In the earlier 8 I was extremely prepared to point where I practiced answering questions on web cam and shyt. Attire? Aint none of these white folks know how to color coordinate suits, ties and dress shirts like I do. One interview I remember interviewing with two guys in polos and jeans (musta been casual friday) and their etiquette was terrible. Anyways, for whatever reason even though I killed most of the interviews I still wasnt getting the jobs. Whether it was race, competition etc is beyond me...but after a while I said fukk it; that obviously isnt going to make a difference so I'm just going to go into the interview and wing it. The only preparation I would do is go over the job posting to know whats required of me and how my experiences might help...and then doing some company research.

Like you said I got lucky and I got a great job eventually ...its really all luck