Tokenism and denying agency

Working while Black in classical music is harrowing.

When we’re hired, Whites run scripts of affirmative action and tokenism rather than ones of competence and legitimacy. Agency rarely accompanies employment, whereas Whites readily enjoy exercising their full responsibilities. Diversity initiatives are intentionally moot. This especially includes academia.

True diversity means retaining more than one Black employee at a time. More than any other racial group, diversity for blacks inspires fear of racial mutiny.

Employers employ minorities without doing the real work of learning different cultural repertoires and narratives. Token minorities often bear the full onus of diversity and assimilation who grow immediately fatigued from fighting nonstop the inertia of institutionally racist organizations. We’re expected to single-handedly heave racist organizations kicking and screaming into a future they never wished to dream. How is diversity ever meant to happen?

It isn’t.

We’re window dressing for white patrons and stakeholders to remain guilt-free as they buy. Organizations reap rewards when judges write-off discrimination lawsuits because, “Hey, you hired a Black person. You can’t POSSIBLY be racist!”

In nearly all corners of society, Black people aren’t valued. Classical music isn’t different.