White Shade

No one should have to cope with the psychological distress of work every day, and yet every day, Black women handle the stress of being a racial and gender minority within professional and educational institutions. This is why Black professional women who work in predominantly white work environments are more likely to express greater levels of psychological distress. In this text, the author uses creative writing to delve into the internal turmoil of Black women in professional environments, and to help readers to understand how it manifests, each chapter offers episodic accounts of the inevitable experience of so many Black women within professional contexts. To combat the intentional attempts to inflict psychological distress upon her in these situations, and to prepare her with the art of "psychological jujitsu", the author presents "A Word of Advice" at the end of each chapter.

White Shade: A Real-World Primer for the Black Professional Woman is a text for the experienced and aspiring Black professional woman. It serves as a guide to mental and emotional stability within the professional arena, while also empowering her to continue to exhibit the excellence she has worked her entire life to achieve. This primer strives to bring an awareness to the real experiences of so many Black women and the societal obstacles she faces in her professional encounters. The characters within this text depict the narratives of professional Black women, and in their own way, each character sheds light on the internal turmoil Black women refuse to accept and the "psychological jujitsu" Black women must master in the professional arena. Each chapter depicts a vignette of a Black woman's experience within a system striving to marginalize her, and it depicts how she handles the attempt to disarm and disempower her genuine capacity. To end each chapter, and to inspire experienced and aspiring Black professional women, "A Word on Advice".

Dr. Michelle L. Shelton is a Life & Career Coach, whose experiences as an Educational Leader has inspired her to coach others on their path toward personal and professional success. Dr. Shelton is also the Founder & Director of the 501(c)3 nonprofit The Word on Theo Move. Its mission is to empower individuals to strengthen communities, and it is this mission that has inspired this text.