What does it mean to be Black at Google?
2 min readDec 29, 2023
I became Black in America ~ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- It’s a deeper understanding of my racial identity — as a Black person, a Black person at Google and a Black person in America.
- It’s the realization that I am NOT lucky to be here. I am MEANT to be here. I deserve to be here.
- It’s the recognition that as different as we are, we share the same struggles, worries, challenges and ambitions as Black people.
- It’s the fact that as Black people, we are unique in our own indescribable, unquantifiable way.
- It’s the re-emphasis, the re-iteration that who I am brought me to Google and I should allow it to shape the work that I do rather than hinder it.
- The Collective means Friendship and Belonging amongst a community of people who actually like me for me, for just being BLACK.
How do I like being Black in America? I’m learning to love, embrace and accept it fully 🖤
Author’s note: Originally written on March 17, 2023 after attending ‘The Collective’ capstone event in Atlanta, GA — an onboarding program for Black Nooglers (new Googlers) to encourage us to Stay & Thrive at Google. I joined Google since May 31, 2022 and it’s been life-changing to say the least.