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Break Concrete


The podcast exploring the unique experiences of Black women professionals as they navigate race and gender in the workplace and break through the concrete wall to professional advancement.

Nov 2, 2021

Are you guilty of performative allyship? Today’s guest, Dr. Maxine Davis, a scholar, activist, and author, breaks down the pitfalls of performative allyship and how even well-meaning professionals can perpetuate oppression and social harms in the workplace. In early 2021, Dr. Davis authored an article in Nature Human Behavior, Anti-black practices take heavy toll on mental health. We chat about Dr. Davis’s own experiences with anti-black practices in the workplace and recommendations for a more inclusive workplace.

Find links and show notes at https://breakconcrete.com/bc046.

Topics Covered:

  • Defining cultural appropriation and how it shows up in the workplace
  • How cultural appropriation causes harm
  • Distinguishing cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation
  • Defining performative allyship and how it shows up at work
  • Tips for moving beyond performative allyship
  • How professionals in helping professions can perpetuate oppression and social harms
  • Finding a mental health therapist/social worker 
  • How to hold organizations accountable to move beyond performative allyship
  • Dr. Davis’s experience with anti-black practices in academia
  • Why it’s difficult for some to talk about race and interrogate their practices
  • How institutions can address anti-Black practices

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