Attitudes Around Disability, Intersectionality

The Impact of Being Black and Disabled in the Workplace 

TW: Racism 

Black History Month UK takes place during October, and the 2024 theme was ‘Reclaiming Narratives’. This emphasises the importance of telling and retelling the stories and experiences of Black individuals and communities, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions.

Throughout October, Evenbreak featured story takeovers from Black and disabled voices, sharing their experiences of being both Black and disabled in the workplace. We also actively re-shared content from creators and activists, ensuring we amplify a diversity of voices. Here’s a roundup of our socials takeover this month – spoiler: Education and LISTENING to Black people. 

A photo montage of Florence, Roxy, and Christina, three Black women smiling at the camera. 
Image Description: A photo montage of Florence, Roxy, and Christina, three Black disabled women smiling at the camera. A Black History Month logo and Evenbreak’s logo are shown above.

Christina 

Healthcare assistant Christina shared her experiences of how disability, racism, and the workplace intersect, and what we can do to break down racism in the workplace. As a passionate advocate for Black and disabled voices, Christina uses her platform to shed light on the systemic racism present in the workplace and society at large. Through her unique perspective and powerful storytelling, she works to raise awareness, promote inclusion, and inspire change for marginalized communities. 

Christina, a black woman, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a green lanyard with sunflowers on it and a black and white top. 
Image Description: Christina, a black woman, smiles at the camera. She is wearing a green lanyard with sunflowers on it and a black and white top. 

Christina: “Black women in the workplace are often labelled as “the angry Black woman.” We are seen as illogical, aggressive, unprofessional, and demanding. When I’m at work, this can manifest in how we advocate for ourselves. If people educated themselves and did not believe these stereotypes, I wouldn’t have to pick apart every conversation to make sure there is no underlying racism. There are so many resources out there; educating yourself can make the workplace more inclusive and less exhausting.” 

Roxy 

Roxy, one of our #DisabilityRepresentation models, is an MS advocate and a diversity and inclusion specialist. She shares her experience of workplace racism, highlighting the harm caused by tokenistic gestures and encouraging audiences to view diversity and inclusion as ongoing commitments, not just a tick-box exercise.  

Roxy, a Black woman with curly hair, smiles at the camera. Behind her are shelves of books. 
Image Description: Roxy, a Black woman with curly hair, smiles at the camera. Behind her are shelves of books. 

Roxy: “Being Black, disabled, and queer in the workplace means constantly navigating biases. It involves dampening your feelings to avoid being seen as ‘difficult’ or ‘problematic’ while carefully choosing which battles are worth fighting. It’s exhausting to listen to decisions being made about experiences that others have not lived, while knowing that true progress requires co-production. When lived experiences are centred in decision-making, workplaces can become more inclusive, empathetic, and genuinely equitable.” 

Florence 

Florence is a medical student who talks about how race and disability intersect and what workplaces can do to prevent racial bias. Flo discusses how for Black disabled individuals there is a higher unemployment rate and lower pay rate than for both White disabled individuals and Black individuals without a disability. 

Florence, a black woman with long dark hair, smiles widely at the camera. 
Image Description: Florence, a black woman with long dark hair, smiles widely at the camera. 

Florence: “Being Black and disabled in the workplace often means constantly code-switching and masking parts of ourselves to fit into spaces not designed for us. Disability is frequently misunderstood, seen as ‘further evidence’ of negative stereotypes. The effort to adapt and be ‘palatable’ often comes at the expense of our mental health and authenticity. We are forced to filter our thoughts and language, balancing self-advocacy with acceptance. Workplaces must acknowledge these layers. True inclusion means creating an environment where we don’t have to hide who we are—a workplace where we can bring our whole selves without fear of judgement, transforming both our experiences and the organisation’s culture.” 

The voices of Christina, Roxy, and Florence remind us of the urgent need to centre Black disabled experiences in the workplace and beyond. Their stories highlight the layers of bias and challenges faced in professional spaces, where stereotypes and systemic barriers too often obscure the potential for true inclusivity. Real progress requires us all to listen, learn, and act on the insights shared by Black disabled individuals. Let’s push past tokenism and commit to driving authentic inclusion every day of the year. Together, we can create lasting change. 

Go to Evenbreak’s TikTok account to watch the videos in full. 

Thank you to Christina, Roxy, and Florence for sharing your insights with Evenbreak.

Published by janelhatton

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