Black Professionals Reclaim Their Stories

In a recent viral TikTok video, user Monte Washington challenged the narrow stereotype of “Black jobs” by showcasing the diverse and successful careers of Black professionals. 

This video emerged as a response to controversial comments made by former President Trump during a presidential debate, where he claimed immigrants were taking jobs from Black and Hispanic people.

“They’re taking Black jobs now, and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people,” Trump said during his debate.

This statement, perceived by many as racially charged, spurred a wave of social media activity under the hashtag #BlackJobs.

#BlackJobs

#BlackJobs started trending on social media within minutes of Trump’s speech during the debate.

His rhetoric made viewers question what he meant by a Black job, with many assuming he was referring to low-paid, low-security, and often physically demanding service roles, according to Forbes.

Black professionals used their platforms to reclaim their narratives and showcase their contributions to fields such as medicine, law, technology, and more, using the #BlackJobs movement.

Using the hashtags #BlackJob and #BlackJobs on social media, many physicians, judges, attorneys, engineers, and others posted photos of themselves in their workplace settings to prove Trump’s claims wrong.

Washington and his friends got involved in the movement on TikTok by dressing in golfing attire, humorously questioning and redefining what constitutes a “Black job.” 

From surgeons and attorneys to tech company VPs and real estate developers, each participant proudly shares their professional identity, dismantling the stereotype that Black jobs are confined to low-paying, labor-intensive roles.