Image: Celebrating Black Women, Claiming A Seat At The Table
This week, I engaged with Ane Ogbe’s, “A seat at the table is not enough: a perspective on Black women representation in academia,” published in Immunology & Cell Biology (2022). Ogbe reflects on her personal journey as a Black woman in academic science, highlighting the emotional labor, isolation, and systemic barriers that persist despite increased visibility. She challenges the assumption that representation alone leads to equity, arguing that institutional culture has to evolve to support and keep Black women meaningfully. Ogbe’s voice and experiences highlight that Black women aren’t just asking for access, but also to be seen and heard.
This article resonates with my project’s focus on code-switching, identity, and representation in corporate environments indirectly. I’m studying Ogbe’s professional field in science, but it shows how we all have the same experiences no matter what space we occupy. Ogbe’s assertion that “a seat at the table is not enough” echoes the core tension I’m exploring: visibility without belonging. It’s no longer enough for Black women to just be included because when they are, they are sometimes met with microagressions and discriminations. Her lived experience reinforces my argument that institutions must move beyond performative inclusion and confront the cultural norms that force Black women to adjust and alter their identities to fit in these spaces.
This week I met with my committee chair and shared some of the materials I’ve worked on in this course toward my project. We were able to have fruitful conversation where he gave me lots of feedback to work with. My next deliverable is to confirm my remaining committee members. I already know who I want to ask, I just need to ask. I haven’t yet met with Kristina, but I want to soon!
Source: Ogbe, A. (2022). A seat at the table is not enough: A perspective on Black women representation in academia. Immunology & Cell Biology, 100(10), 757–759. https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12584
Colour House. (2022). Celebrating Black Women, Claiming A Seat At The Table [Photograph]. GUAP. https://guap.co/celebrating-black-women-claiming-a-seat-at-the-table/
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