“As the months went on, I saw how badly the conversations were going, and I saw people of color who were frustrated,” says Headlee. The conversations we need to have Source: Pexels, RODNAE Productions Yet in a month’s time, Headlee’s “Speak of Race” will the market. Historically, even when marginalized groups contribute their voices, privileged demographics either silence or ignore them.

In addition, platforms and formats open to ridicule, such as social media and traditional publications, place an even greater burden on the source. The fatigue marginalized groups experience due to the emotional labor of educating more privileged groups deters many from participating in these conversations. And frankly talking about is emotionally exhausting for a person of color.” The other thing is that once you write about race, sometimes that means you will not write or talk about anything else for the rest of your career. “I said ‘no, thank you,’” admits Headlee, “because when you write about race, a few things happen … 50% of people aren’t going to like it. The interest in critical race theory had spiked by that time, with a considerable uptick in sales on critical race books and books by Black authors.

Speaking of race …įollowing the murder of George Floyd, Headlee’s publicist at HarperWave reached out and asked her to join the dialogue on racism in America. Her next book, “Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism–and How to Do It,” releases this November and chronicles how to have productive conversations about race. “Do Nothing” examines how society teaches us to prioritize perpetual performance over our well-being. Headlee’s “Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing and Underliving” came out at the genesis of COVID-19. Coincidentally, two of her books cover both of these topics. While workers of all races experience stress from their work culture, people of color suffer the most.Ĭeleste Headlee, an award-winning journalist, professional speaker and New York Times bestselling author, joined TMS for a conversation about toxic productivity, racial dynamics before and during the pandemic and how these intersect.

Why, if nearly every institution seems to be hiring, is there a labor shortage? In short, employees desire better working environments and conditions that balance their personal and professional lives. They read, “Closed for the day…Low on staff,” or “Closed early for employee appreciation.” The sloppy signs pale in comparison to the neatly composed “We’re hiring” pleas. How does your race impact your experience in the workplace, pre-pandemic and during? Sloppily written signs hang in the windows of our local restaurants, boutiques and shops.

Celeste headlee book do nothing