DOLORES DE COLORES II
Last week we reached 365 days since the death of George Floyd. If you work in media like myself, for the last month or even longer, you’ve thought of the best way to remember what we know today as Enlightenment Day. This day, May 25th 2020, marked the rebirth of the racial reckoning of America. A shift in consciousness, diversity, impact and some smallish equity. George’s execution marked a pivotal time of transformation as our quarantined citizens risked all that they knew in the name of justice, and leaders stepped up to create communities to put pressure on the system we know too well. George deserved to be alive today and his daughter Gianna deserved his presence, his support and his love.
George was many things and even worked as a security guard at a Dominican restaurant and nightclub called Conga Latin Bistro in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our diaspora runs deep and so do the claws of racism and colonialism. If you read Dolores de Colores I, you know that during this time I had wounds of my own that surfaced and that I had to address. After George Floyd’s death my meditations became more intentional. Those intentions led me to produce social entertainment news at the intersection of political justice for REVOLT MEDIA. I asked the universe to become a bridge - and that I became. But it didn’t come with deep discomfort - working with WYPP.
Let me explain.
A decade ago (2011 to be exact) I gave everything I had in me to work in high fashion. Through the grace of a temp agency, manifestation and my personality, I landed at one of the biggest luxury Italian houses. My mom wore their fragrances my entire life - so having a seat as a Customer Service rep for their South America market was goals of a lifetime.
To make a long story short - I was let go in an unfair manner. I didn’t have HR talk to me of course because I came in through an agency - and the agency cared more about their relationship with said client than they did to listen to my side. There was no exit anything.
I was barely 22 then, moved on from anything having to do with luxury fashion and transitioned on to media. At the time I didn’t have the emotional maturity to stand up for myself, and instead I cried it out and walked away with my head high and my pride. I knew in my heart that if I looked different that both the agency and the brand would have handled things in another fashion.
I never worked closely with WYPP again - with the exception of freelance gigs and my 10 month stunt at Balmain.
Last summer, I realized how this discomfort and intentional distance - while it was a reaction to previous events had been holding me back from growing in my career and from experiencing a greater sense of love for humanity. This 2011 memory was so deep up my ass that it took George Floyd and the collective anger of our BIPOC community for me to let it go - to examine its root and find my voice. In December 2020, I decided to email my note that I had written in June as my spirit couldn’t step into 2021 with this story in my chest. My email was received well ya’ll.
The valiant people who came forward on Twitter, Diet Prada and other spaces inspired me to OWN that part of my story for the growth that lies ahead. I guess this was professional shadow work that I had overlooked.
Earlier this year I gained a white mentor in Marketing. This is a very different Ghislaine and I’m looking forward to building new connections with a different lens, and self love.
My learnings for the younger dreamers, do-ers and change agents:
Harboring feelings associated with workplace discrimination holds you back and holds the company back.
Speaking your truth can potentially create an opportunity for senior leaders to shift their culture.
Keep a record of offensive actions and microaggressions.
Certain things have nothing to do with you, while at the moment it may feel like it.
Keep your future in mind with everything that you do and say.
I thank summer 2020 for helping so many of us find our voices to push our society forward. I hope my vulnerability enlightens you to do the same if this resonates with you. We are deserving of everything we’ve ever dreamed of. I welcome more growth, more love, and more diversity in my life as I step into summer 2021.
