30 Comments
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Mennlay's avatar

wow, this was felt and written in a way that makes me want to read more. thank you for this truth!!!

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

I really loved your rice and beans piece and this is a great compliment that every writer wishes they’d get.

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SdChrismon's avatar

Whew! When @monique talked about this essay in her newsletter, I crept over here to read it, and it's so good! This hit my proximity to whiteness as a light-skinned Black woman real hard. Love it! Thank you for sharing!

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makhela inez's avatar

*snaps* so well written. i found myself reading it in Jabari’s voice from Entergalactic, which only added to the humorous undertones…thank you for sharing!

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Ashley Simpo's avatar

I love this. Honest and wise. You are hands down one of my favorite writers.

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

Ashley, I'm loving the Landline and all you bring to it. I hope we can collaborate more soon.

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Ashley Simpo's avatar

That means so much coming from you. I would love to collab!

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Maya Yandal's avatar

Whew. This was so relatable. And a great read. I really enjoy your writing!

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Maya Yandal's avatar

Kind of reminds me of Percival Everett! 😉

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

This is the highest compliment you could pay my work and so very inspiring. Thank you.

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Badiana Badio Eckstrom's avatar

What a great read Andrew 😮‍💨!

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

Thank you!

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Jus's avatar

I cringed at the interactions throughout this. All too familiar in the workplace as a Black person. Really enjoyed this piece!

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monique judge's avatar

This was delicious. I enjoyed every word.

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

Thank you so much, Monique. I enjoy your writing a lot and I’m glad you got to stop by here.

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monique judge's avatar

Thank you for saying that. This was so open and honest and relatable. I'll be back for more.

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Karen Wesley's avatar

I love the honesty here.

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

Thank you, Karen. Your blog has an incredible title. Subscribing.

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Angèle's avatar

That was so good! I was so into it I could have read a whole chapter of this story. The subtlety of your writing really highlights the subtlety of these heavily race-charged interactions. I saw many of my former bosses in your Doria.

Really good, thank you!!

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LaNita Mosley's avatar

I felt this as a black person navigating white corporate America. Great writing.

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Manny's avatar

Well I loved this. I now have a book rec, and a lot of things to think about. I’m in the process of writing a blackity black rap musical, with a Pulitzer Prize gleam to it. But I’m navigating the very white Broadway space in NYC. I was having some of these exact thoughts…but now realizing, “we know who you are, and who you will always be”. Thank you for your words!

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Jasmine Scott's avatar

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Closing this piece in this manner really made me go “Wow wtf”

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Tylissa Lockhart's avatar

Your ability to explain something so layered effortlessly has me hooked. This was beautiful. This is also one of my biggest struggles, in my personal writing & writing jn corporate America. Thank you.

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Andrew Ricketts's avatar

This is such a high compliment and we're in these layers together, thankfully. This comment makes me feel less alone.

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Virgen Barnet's avatar

Oof, what a cliffhanger! Can’t wait to read more. I work with a few Doria’s and this hit too deep. Especially when not long ago my own well of black and brown led projects has dried.

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Jason Herndon's avatar

Whew! This hit. Thanks for sharing.

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