Of course you would find the concept of “finding your tribe” disturbing. If you look how I am assuming you do, you won’t have the faculties to even imagine what it is like to navigate a career in a firm where at a senior level there isn’t a single person of the same racial background as you. If you are able to recognise why it’s important for women in general to have access to female mentors in senior positions, then it really shouldn’t be too difficult for you to extend some empathy in this context. Alas, we live in the UK where so many of you seem to believe that POC haven’t endured race related challenges since the Abolishment of slavery in 1833. Perhaps I should lower my expectations.

Where black women face unique challenges at work (they do, see the racism scandal we’ve seen on LC last year with a major firm) it is absolutely appropriate for them to share their experience to (a) help each other (b) raise awareness and (c) feel heard. This is not exclusionary of anybody else. It does not say other ethnicities should not seek to “thrive” at work. This particular article focuses on a set of challenges that is specific to one particular group, and allowing for the sharing of this information without the unsubstantiated backlash in these comments is necessary in a pluralist society, which the UK, constitutionally, actively seeks to be.

You miss the point.

White people thrive in law already.

Sorry I thought you were opposed to authenticity and espouse the right for other people to shun you for being true to self? Or do you just prefer it when management only does that, using “common sense” of course?

I wish my experiences of “pure racism” were limited to ethnic minorities publishing self help articles about how to thrive as a minority in a particular space.

Did you actually read the article? The whole part about “find your tribe” is about seeking mentorship from people who know what it’s like from experience. What’s so radically ethno-centric about that? No one is advocating for socialising only with those who look like you

From a white male christian, who is not from this country and therefore lacks the networks, perfect accent or 100% of the customs or social nuances, thank you for your insight.

It’s people like you with common sense that makes this country great for all.

Taking some of these problematic comments in turn:

“(to the extent it covers ethnicity, I think there are actual issues which specifically prejudice women which need addressed yesterday)”
Translation: (white) women’s issues are worthy of respect and consideration. Black women – not so much.

“It seems to me that being a minority, in this country and by consequence the legal industry, is just a stat. Nothing more. Not a privilege or a burden.”
I disagree. I’m immensely proud to come from a group of people that withstood so much abuse (from slavery, colonialism, racism etc), I am a proud descendant of those people. I am proud of our different cultures and traditions. I could go on. It is a privilege. I recognise that being black also carries the burden of being discriminated against in many contexts, and that is extremely challenging.

“If anything, positive discrimination seems to be the new culture.”
Lol

“I hate HR coming to the firm and picking people to participate in photoshoots for whatever reason but making sure there is a ‘token person of colour’. That is not what I am here for.”
I hate this too, but that’s the least of my concerns in the grand scheme of things.

“Also, the idea that no one can dictate your professionalism is wrong. We have general British standards of professionalism and those should be adhered to. It is a cultural thing, not discriminatory. If management decide on the specifics, using common sense, you should go along with that.”
This is such a dangerous idea that is used to disqualify anyone who does not present as posh, polished and white as unprofessional.

“In any case, I hope to have a well regarded legal career because of my talents, hard work and respect for others. Things I have, to some extent, control over.”
what is it about this article made you feel that the writer and those who agree think otherwise?

“I certainly will never be practicing as a black solicitor, just a solicitor.”
Being black is a fundamental characteristic that shapes a black solicitor’s experience so what’s wrong with recognising that? Black people are not the ones who created and majored on this race construct in the first place.

I would rather someone take genuine interest in me at work to include me than to not at risk of offending me.”
who wouldn’t? why is this relevant to this article?

“If we focus on the inclusion part, and that involves including yourself, then things like diversity will come naturally and not feel forced “
How come equality and inclusion hasn’t just happened naturally over the past decades? Interesting how you also seem to blame black people for being excluded.

“certainly, don’t just find your “tribe”.”
Why not? What’s wrong with seeking out those who understand you without having to explain too much?

“If it is because you are struggling with the culture then I struggle to sympathise.”
do you really need someone to tell you what’s wrong with this statement?

Ironically, light-skinned Christians from the Middle East are among the most persecuted people on the planet. Yet, in the estimation of the neo-intersectionalists, we don’t fit into the ‘tribe’. The same goes for white Balkan people subject to 500 years of Ottoman brutality – nobody cares!

Marxist theories on race are among the most exclusionary I have seen.

Indeed. Cultural marxists have hijacked the struggle against inequality of opportunity and mutated it into an ugly new form of tribalism. Suddenly, if you do not agree with the self-proclaimed thought leaders of the Black community, then you’re rejected and marginalised. That is as racist as anything else we have known in history – reducing your mindset only to your ethnic/gender identity. Shameful, considering the proud heritage of the UK in winning over Soviet-style collectivism.

Genuinely confused about what it is about this article that encourages self segregation? The article does not encourage black female lawyers to only associate with other black female lawyers. The article does not say that black female lawyer should not engage with clients or colleagues that don’t share the same background. The article simply suggested that it would be beneficial for black female lawyers to also get mentorship from those who share the same characteristics so are able to relate with them and speak from experience.

When white women join infinity groups for women, and seek membership from more experienced female colleagues is that also perverse self segregation?

When white women were pushing back on notions of professionalism being male centric and encouraging women to not feel obliged to confirm to male professional standards, did you have the same sentiment that they did so at their own risk? That others were entitled to shun them? Did you think that stemmed from a sense of hubris and entitlement?

This comment is a prime example of why it is essential to have mentorship from people who understand you and are able to relate to your experiences. It also demonstrates why law firms statistically exclude those who come from the nontraditional white and privileged background, despite the aggressive marketing (aka lip service) pursued by law firms on the subject.

I just don’t go about my life putting people into groups and assuming they are all the same with the same issues, whether I fit into that group myself. Don’t think that makes me a right-winger as such. Everyone is different.

I empathise and sympathise with people who are in genuine struggle, regardless of sex, colour, height or anything else you want to divide people into. I don’t see people of colour as people who struggle, though individuals might do. Dangerous to think that being black is some prerequisite for struggle.

Is there a correct homogenised view a person of colour should subscribe to here?

Please share. I am trying to learn to be my authentic true self, but fear I may have the wrong opinions.

I despise this narrative that suggests my authenticity and uniqueness depends on independent, free thought. This is simply wrong. We need to unite, in our own separate spaces, to become even more authentic and avoid contamination of thought that leads to people going astray (like those you mention – Badenoch, Suella, Priti Patel and co.). People need to learn to be themselves and not harm the cause for others by taking opinions that clearly cause harm (and personally to me great offence and anxiety).

In the first sentence you do that classic thing people do of giving recognition and credence to the issues faced by women (subtext: white women), and then you go on to dismiss any race or ethnicity related issues.

I can see why you say you struggle to sympathise, you seem to totally lack any empathy or sympathy for black women.

Overall your comment is so incredibly tone deaf and ignorant. If you are a “person of colour” as you say, then I’m sure your views are generally aligned with the likes of Kemi Badenoch, Suella, Priti Patel & co.

In particular, I think the suggestion that people ought to “find their tribe” and look for mentors from the same racial background is quite disturbing. Determining your social and professional networks on the basis of race seems fundamentally bigoted as well as pointless – not only are you fostering groupthink (which is particularly dangerous when it starts to valorise a sense of persecution), but you are losing the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds who can add a great amount of value to your life.

I also fundamentally disagree with the idea of “embracing authenticity”. Law firms are professional environments designed to deliver results and generate profits, and they do so by having a uniform, singular culture – one which has worked for centuries. Whilst all lawyers undoubtedly “have the right to be yourself unapologetically”, that doesn’t mean that others need to accept you unapologetically, and it can breed a mindset of hubris and entitlement.

Thank you for the insight – sobering

Also, the idea that no one can dictate your professionalism is wrong. We have general British standards of professionalism and those should be adhered to. It is a cultural thing, not discriminatory. If management decide on the specifics, using common sense, you should go along with that.

In any case, I hope to have a well regarded legal career because of my talents, hard work and respect for others. Things I have, to some extent, control over. I certainly will never be practicing as a black solicitor, just a solicitor. Things like having biases, I don’t understand. People are different. People are interested in difference precisely because it is different. I would rather someone take genuine interest in me at work to include me than to not at risk of offending me.

If we focus on the inclusion part, and that involves including yourself, then things like diversity will come naturally and not feel forced – certainly, don’t just find your “tribe”. When it is forced, divisions in office views/behaviours grow because people are put into different groups. I feel we are at a point where if I say you can’t understand my life so don’t bother challenging me, that is not useful to anyone – including myself. If there are cases of genuine discrimination, then do speak out but if it is because you are struggling with the culture then I struggle to sympathise. (I also don’t like the term “white spaces”, I would be offended if I was in the café with black colleagues and it was described as “black spaces”, this is not America in the 50s).