Dr. Tana M. Session’s Working While Black is far more than a professional development manual—it’s a powerful memoir, a rallying cry, and a survival guide for Black women navigating the often treacherous terrain of corporate America. With sharp insight and unflinching honesty, Dr. Session blends personal narrative, professional strategies, and the voices of other Black women leaders into a cohesive and inspiring playbook for reclaiming power and visibility in the workplace.
The book begins with a striking reminder of real-world workplace violence, referencing Yasmine James’ viral McDonald’s incident, grounding the reader in the harsh, unfiltered reality that many Black women endure. From there, Dr. Session weaves her own story—marked by a childhood in the foster care system, cycles of trauma, and racialized abuse—into a broader discussion about how Black women are often undervalued and misunderstood at every stage of life and work.
What distinguishes this book from other corporate self-help titles is its raw vulnerability. Dr. Session opens her heart, recounting deeply personal moments of abuse, systemic racism, and betrayal—not for shock value, but to show that overcoming these hurdles is not only possible, but that healing is integral to success. Her five-pronged framework—Own Your Power, Truth, Healing, Worth, and Destiny—serves as both a reflection of her own journey and a replicable model for others who feel unseen or sidelined in their careers.
Each section of the book is infused with practical guidance. Dr. Session doesn’t just lament the injustice of being passed over for promotions or facing coded language in performance reviews—she gives readers tools to challenge these injustices. She illustrates how to leverage authenticity, demand value, and stop apologizing for ambition. The book also offers a nuanced understanding of intersectionality, imposter syndrome, and microaggressions, making it essential reading not just for Black women, but for managers, HR leaders, and diversity officers who want to truly understand the lived experiences of their Black female colleagues.
What’s particularly valuable is the inclusion of interviews with other high-achieving Black women, including Princess Zamaswazi “Swati” Mandela and executives across industries. These testimonials affirm that while no two journeys are the same, the systemic challenges are often startlingly similar. This collective storytelling strengthens the central message of the book: You are not alone.
Dr. Session’s writing is engaging, candid, and accessible. Her tone strikes a perfect balance between mentor and peer—never condescending, always empowering. She’s transparent about her setbacks, including failed marriages, professional discrimination, and personal loss. Yet she never loses sight of hope or purpose, modeling resilience on every page.
In a world where workplace equity is still a work in progress, Working While Black is not just timely—it’s necessary. It is a clarion call for change, both internal and external. For Black women, it offers permission to be whole, successful, and unapologetic. For organizations, it is a wake-up call to stop treating inclusion as a checkbox and start treating it as the foundation of true leadership.
Highly recommended for professionals at all levels, this book will remain a relevant and resonant resource for years to come.
Rating: ★★★★★
