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OPINION Does “Acting professional” automatically equal code switching?

BDP™️

BDP™️

Acknowledge Moi
Just was randomly thinking about this

I know we have a lot of professionals on this board that work in various corporate environments and we know the struggle of sometimes being the “1 of 1” in these environments...

Is code switching still a necessary evil for us or nah?
 
imo it depends on where you are (company and city/area)

in my case im definitely the 1 of 1 and yeah that shit is still a thing....but I dont see that being the case somewhere like Atlanta

in other words companies or places that have more black professionals at the top of the chain
 
I don't have a problem with code switching if it's done properly.

You don't have to compromise your blackness to speak, dress or carry yourself properly in a workplace setting.

But a lot of people end up acting like a coon thinking they're just trying to be professional.
 
1/2 said:
imo it depends on where you are (company and city/area)

in my case im definitely the 1 of 1 and yeah that shit is still a thing....but I dont see that being the case somewhere like Atlanta

in other words companies or places that have more black professionals at the top of the chain
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I can see that...its not really thing for me at this moment because the Engineering team I currently work with is all black...so to certain extent we can still be “us”

Dealing with leadership which is all white...I always try to evaluate whether me being “professional” is muting my blackness to make them comfortable...it really is a razor thin line
 
BDP™️ said:
I can see that...its not really thing for me at this moment because the Engineering team I currently work with is all black...so to certain extent we can still be “us”

Dealing with leadership which is all white...I always try to evaluate whether me being “professional” is muting my blackness to make them comfortable...it really is a razor thin line
Click to expand...

it just depends on the how the individual feels about it in that case

i understand why someone wouldnt want to "mute" themselves or their identity but I also didnt get up this morning just to go be black lol....I got other shit to do besides that, just being real....work is work to me....I dont expect to be comfortable or to be able to express my full personality in what im wearing or how im talking...im not hanging out im here for money....I barely decorate, I've had the same chair and desk forever.....they ask me if I want new shit but I really dont care how this shit looks or feels here....im not here to enjoy it lol

anyway so I may change my dialect some when i come in these doors, I might take off the krit hoodie and throw on the old navy pullover, i may try to have a little bit of a higher tone if im talking to women so I dont come off like im barking on em, etc.....i dont feel like im muting anything, just getting in game mode

the jobs i've had where that wasnt necessary didnt really make me feel any different about working or being at work or any of that
 
Race Jones said:
professionalism is steeped in whiteness
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i'd agree with this

but there's parts of it that have nothing to do with race as well

when i worked warehouses and steel fabrication shops we wore du rags and skullys and smoked blunts out in the open

now, in a more professional setting of course im not wearing anything on my head and im using eye drops and ozium spray and breath mints before i come in here

just some shit you know you gotta change up, it comes with the work
 
1/2 said:
i'd agree with this

but there's parts of it that have nothing to do with race as well

when i worked warehouses and steel fabrication shops we wore du rags and skullys and smoked blunts out in the open

now, in a more professional setting of course im not wearing anything on my head and im using eye drops and ozium spray and breath mints before i come in here

just some shit you know you gotta change up, it comes with the work
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Lol. That's not acting professional or code switching tho.

"I went from smoking blunts in the open to using visine and breath mints after."

Nigga whut?
 
#1hiphopjunki3 said:
Maybe someone should post the definition or their idea of what being professional entails to truly spark a serious and well rounded discussion
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that can branch off in a million different ways tho.....we all know what that shit basically means

but there's sooo many differences just from company to company its hard to break down everybody's experience

I feel the need to "act" and talk more professional when I come here, but we can wear jeans and boots like it aint shit.

That wouldnt fly as professional in someones else's office but its mostly country folks here.

Another suit and tie office might be cool with employees hooking up or smoking right outside the door.
 
King Freeman said:
Lol. That's not acting professional or code switching tho.

"I went from smoking blunts in the open to using visine and breath mints after."

Nigga whut?
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aight stupid example but its something I change before I come in here, due to the type of place it is

didnt have to freshen up for those other jobs, because they were NOT professional
 
1/2 said:
aight stupid example but its something I change before I come in here, due to the type of place it is

didnt have to freshen up for those other jobs, because they were NOT professional
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Point is doing those things doesn't make you more professional. It's the other way.
 
I talk different at work then when I do at home with friend and fam.

I dont see this as code switching at all.

Every language in the world has a proper form and a conversational form. In professional settings, the proper form is used. Around friends, slang of that language is used.

I speak 3 languages and this happens in all 3.

Its normal imo.
 
Aight. Look at I like this.

let’s use the Kobe and Shaq.

Kobe said shaq didn’t no take this basketball shit serious and wasn’t a professional. He didn’t train like he should, goofing off all the time.

Kobe did. He was a damn professional when it came this hooping shit.


Now explain to me how Kobe is rooted in white folks behavior.



Again. Acting professional is not a whit word black thing. Y’all really need to understand that.
 
1/2 said:
that can branch off in a million different ways tho.....we all know what that shit basically means

but there's sooo many differences just from company to company its hard to break down everybody's experience

I feel the need to "act" and talk more professional when I come here, but we can wear jeans and boots like it aint shit.

That wouldnt fly as professional in someones else's office but its mostly country folks here.

Another suit and tie office might be cool with employees hooking up or smoking right outside the door.
Click to expand...

Can it really branch off into a million different thing's though? Lol. I asked that question because I truly want to understand the mindset of the people posting in this thread

I can tell you what I believe being professional is as a reference though..

A professional is a person who goes to their profession to conduct business. A person who adheres to the rules set forth by the company they are employed to.

I know most will laugh at my definition and say it's too broad but that is why I'm asking my initial question about what is most folks definition of being professional and how could it be a bad thing? Lol.
 
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