Community Conversations - Reclaiming My Time

We engaged in a moderated open-floor dialogue to air issues and triumphs related to balancing work and social obligations for Black people in Natural History Museums and other academic spaces. Frequently, Black, Indigenous and people of color are overtasked with the responsibility of addressing climate and cultural issues that result in a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This burden, expected in addition to normal work duties without compensation for increased labor, is often referred to as the “minority tax.” We discussed strategies for prioritizing what is important to us and for saying “No” when we are overcommitted or uninterested. Participants also shared positive and negative experiences doing so. We developed a guide for navigating conversations around these issues which is now available on our website.