Nikki Adebiyi, Founder of Bounce Black

---

As hostility towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) grows, and corporations and institutions go back on promises made in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, it’s clear that we are in the era of the “quiet part” being said out loud.

Black professionals everywhere are clocking the unmasking of what we have known by experience for years: that oftentimes “DEI” is a euphemism for ‘Black’, and that Black professionals are often assumed to be “diversity hires” who are unqualified for their roles because they did not earn them on merit.

This is despite the fact that Black professionals often work twice, if not thrice, as hard as their White counterparts to get to where they are because of the historic disadvantages and legacy deprivations of a socioeconomic landscape that was designed to stack the odds against us.

As frustrating and tiresome as these demonstrably false presumptions are, there is one Black woman (of course) who isn’t sitting out of this debate: Shari Dunn.

About Shari Dunn

In other words, Shari is a multifaceted and highly capable bad*ss. And she’s put on her Black Woman Cape to save us from getting it twisted by setting the record straight on the false association of DEI with incompetence.

About ‘Qualified‘

In Qualified: How Competency Checking and Race Collide at Work, Shari explores the concept of ‘qualification’ and the racialised baggage it carries in the workplace.

“Qualified is a trenchant examination of an insidious form of racism—how Black workers and other workers of color have their intelligence and qualifications routinely undermined. No longer
can leaders blame a lack of diversity on an empty pipeline or ‘imposter syndrome.’ Anyone who cares about creating thriving diverse workplaces should heed this powerful book.”

David Glasgow, co-author of Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice and executive director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law

The book is a bold exposure and confrontation of the myth of insufficient qualified Black professionals that is at the heart of broken talent pipelines bereft of diversity.

Along the way, Shari details the experiences of many Black professionals who are subject to greater scrutiny and surveillance on the job than our non-Black counterparts, which has significant effect on our wellbeing and career advancement.

My Impression of ‘Qualified’

I, for one, found the book extremely resonant with my lived experience. Having been demeaned in speech, shouted at, spoken down to, followed around, and blacklisted, I found everything Shari addressed to be spot on. Even where I couldn’t directly relate, I know someone who can. It’s always simultaneously frustrating and refreshing to read accounts of experiences that I can relate to. However, Shari has done it exceptionally well based on the number of times I said “that part” and shook my head as I read it.

The conversations that I’ve had with others, mostly Black women, were enough to confirm that this problem is pervasive. Yet it reminded me of the Twitter thread that went viral some years ago, posted by a White manager who publicised that he, too, had noticed that his Black direct reports were treated with suspicion more than his non-Black direct reports. It’s a shame I can no longer find the thread, but it is out there, somewhere. If you know, you know. And apparently White ally managers do, too!

Why I recommend ‘Qualified’

Given the sociopolitical climate in the West, Shari has written what I believe will be the most relevant career and professional development book for the year.

I feel seen and I feel slighted, but I also feel a sense of relief. I knew I wasn’t crazy. This is going to be a very, very important book, especially for HR leaders, globally for time to come. Wow!!

My feedback to Shari

A book that is equal parts comforting as infuriating, Black professionals will likely find ‘Qualified’ validating because the conversations we have at our family and friendship tables have finally been put into print. Shari bears witness to our wounds in a manner that is sharp and incisive, inflaming yet healing.

For the same reason, this book is a critical read for Human Resources professionals, especially leaders. I would argue it ought to be included in the essential reading lists for HR courses.

What ‘Qualified’ does is lay bare the unspoken attitudes and assumptions that are often bundled up with ‘cultural fit’ or ‘competency’ which either hinder or hurt Black career progression, and dampen and depress Black morale.

As I said in my TikTok review of the book, these subtle practices which are rife in the corporate world are thinly veiled manifestations of white supremacy, reinforcing and reproducing white privilege and racial inequity.

And they might’ve gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for Shari’s labour of love in giving us this paperbound war cry to the tune of “not on my watch!”.

Buy ‘Qualified’ by Shari Dunn now!