My mentor/dear friend told me that I speak up AND speak out, and how this is rare.

Today, I want to talk what it's like when I see, sense & feel that a more senior Black woman is attempting to sabatoge me and assassinate my character. A💔 🧵

It all started here. I joined @PublicHealth in 2018 and was elected chair in 2019. As can be seen, I was SO excited that the members of this section believed in my leadership enough to elect me to this position!
https://t.co/9aItVsUtcP
Since I cross paths with very few other Black women epidemiologists in these academic streets, I was looking forward to working with the Black women leaders in this section. https://t.co/wpQ69nJ9kk
I started observing that the communication to me was minimal, there was little documentation on processes & procedures, and I was (and felt like) an outsider here. I also felt bad vibes, and tried to set up a mtg to check in on communication & leadership styles. It never happened
Then, our annual meeting happened, & I had been struggling with what I experienced as condescending communication and unwelcoming culture. I was like this can't be right, let me contact @PublicHealth staff for some support.
And then, a couple days after the annual meeting my daddy got covid and was in the hospital for two months before he died. I had a lot of shit going on & was trying to avoid more section drama, and I kept trying to reach out to @publichealth staff for support
After our leadership meeting 1/21/21, I was asked what my plans are for when I take the chair? Specifically what am I going to do if everyone who has been volunteering in the section quits because nobody knows me? I was shocked. This felt hostile.
I said I would try to engage the new members and those who want to get involved but haven't engaged. I was told this was not a good plan. This meeting motivated my tweet later that afternoon. I also got the attention of other @PublicHealth elected members.
https://t.co/O1MgJbGZR4
The current chair was furious about my tweet. She emailed me and @PublicHealth staff. I'm supposed to talk to them, and NOT post on social media. I heard: Grin and bear it. Stay in my place. Pay my dues. Work my way up. Who do you think you are?
Yesterday morning I got this official letter from @PublicHealth
I spoke up about my experiences and spoke out publicly and there was retaliation. They lied on me. Maligned my character. Conspired to keep the status quo, and dishonored the votes of members of one of the largest sections of APHA, and @PublicHealth allowed it.
I could barely function yesterday. I have a clear commitment to uplifting, mentoring, and supporting Black women. I have never experienced what feels like sabatoge and hate from another Black woman. Sharing b/c I suspect others have felt this pain.

More from Society

The UN just voted to condemn Israel 9 times, and the rest of the world 0.

View the resolutions and voting results here:

The resolution titled "The occupied Syrian Golan," which condemns Israel for "repressive measures" against Syrian citizens in the Golan Heights, was adopted by a vote of 151 - 2 - 14.

Israel and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/HoO7oz0dwr


The resolution titled "Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people..." was adopted by a vote of 153 - 6 - 9.

Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No' https://t.co/1Ntpi7Vqab


The resolution titled "Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan" was adopted by a vote of 153 – 5 – 10.

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/REumYgyRuF


The resolution titled "Applicability of the Geneva Convention... to the
Occupied Palestinian Territory..." was adopted by a vote of 154 - 5 - 8.

Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and the U.S. voted 'No'
https://t.co/xDAeS9K1kW

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