Breaking Down Racial Trauma: Navigating the Unique Challenges of Highly Ambitious Black Women
- Sharika N. Pruitt, LPC, Ed.S
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Author: Sharika Pruitt, Ed.S, LPC
I am currently developing my dissertation thesis on racial trauma and ironically, there’s a conversation that many Black women in corporate America and entrepreneurship know all too well, but it’s often whispered behind closed doors or in hushed tones within safe spaces. It’s the weight of racial trauma, weaponized tears, and workplace cognitive dissonance—a silent, yet crushing experience that demands we constantly prove our worth in environments that were never designed for us to thrive.
I know this struggle personally. As a highly ambitious Black woman and business owner, I’ve endured racial trauma with brutal force in small-town Alabama, where the Black population is barely 15%. The sting of being underestimated, the discomfort of being “too much” for white fragility, and the isolation that comes from being the only—or one of few—Black women in predominantly white spaces is not just theoretical for me. It’s real. And it’s exhausting.
The Cognitive Dissonance of Corporate America
Cognitive dissonance happens when people hold conflicting beliefs, and nowhere is this more apparent than in corporate spaces where diversity is a buzzword but not a practice. White women, in particular, will often position themselves as allies, posting about social justice on LinkedIn while simultaneously engaging in micro-aggressions in the workplace. They may smile in your face while undermining your leadership, nod in agreement at a DEI meeting while refusing to acknowledge your expertise, or worse—weaponize their tears to silence you.
It’s a disorienting experience to be encouraged to “lean in” yet be treated as a threat the moment you do. Ambitious Black women often navigate a workplace that claims to champion empowerment while subtly (or overtly) punishing them for being confident, outspoken, and competent.
Weaponized Tears & The "Karen Effect"
White women’s tears hold power in America—a historical, systemic power rooted in the perception that they are fragile, innocent, and in need of protection. We’ve seen it throughout history, from the fabricated lies that led to the lynching of Emmett Till to the more modern yet equally dangerous incidents of white women “crying wolf” in the workplace.
For ambitious Black women, this plays out in several ways:
🚩 Being labeled as aggressive or intimidating when simply asserting an idea in a meeting.
🚩 Having work questioned or contributions minimized while white counterparts receive praise for mediocrity.
🚩 Experiencing gaslighting when addressing bias, only to be met with “I didn’t mean it like that” or “You’re overreacting.”
🚩 The “Karen” dynamic—white women playing the victim when they are held accountable, shifting the focus from your experience of racism to their experience of “hurt feelings.”
This is what weaponized tears do—they redirect power. They make Black women the villain in a narrative where they are simply trying to be seen, heard, and respected.
The Mental & Emotional Toll of Racial Trauma
Racial trauma is real, and it is violent—even when no physical harm is done. The emotional and psychological impact of navigating workplaces where our presence is tolerated but not embraced is debilitating. The anxiety of constantly having to prove ourselves, the fear of being perceived as “too much,” and the exhaustion of managing white fragility while suppressing our own pain is a mental health crisis.
For me, enduring racial trauma as a business owner in small-town Alabama has been distracting at best and soul-crushing at worst. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that resilience runs deep in me. I have learned to bounce back when I can, but that doesn’t erase the harm that’s been done. It doesn’t erase the moments where I have had to swallow my pain to keep the peace, where I have been dismissed, disrespected, and disregarded simply because I am a Black woman who dares to take up space.
Reclaiming Our Power & Prioritizing Our Mental Health
So what do we do? How do highly ambitious Black women protect their peace in environments that refuse to protect them?
1️⃣ Name It & Own Your Experience. You are not “crazy,” you are not “overreacting.” Racial trauma and workplace micro-aggressions are real. Naming the harm is the first step in healing from it.
2️⃣ Stop Shrinking. The more we try to fit into a mold that was not made for us, the more we betray ourselves. Own your confidence, your voice, and your brilliance—without apology.
3️⃣ Create Safe Spaces. Whether through therapy, mentorship, or sisterhood, Black women need spaces where they don’t have to justify their experiences. Find your people.
4️⃣ Hold the Line. Boundaries are necessary. If a workplace or business environment is emotionally unsafe, you have every right to walk away. Your peace is not up for negotiation.
5️⃣ Prioritize Rest. The fight against racism is ongoing, but we are not required to be martyrs. Rest is resistance. Joy is resistance. Choosing yourself is resistance.
Final Thoughts
To my fellow ambitious Black women: You are not alone! If you have ever been gaslit, if you have ever been the victim of weaponized tears, if you have ever had to shrink yourself in the face of white fragility—I see you. I am you.
The road is not easy, and the trauma is real, but so is our resilience. And while I may have endured racial trauma with brutal force in spaces that were not meant for me, I refuse to let it define me. I will continue to rise, to reclaim my space, and to support other Black women in doing the same.
Because we do not just survive. We thrive. 💜
If you are navigating racial trauma in the workplace or business, know that healing is possible. If you’re ready to reclaim your power, set boundaries, and move forward with clarity, I’d love to support you.
📩 Let’s connect – https://linktr.ee/pinklotustribe